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An act to authorize appropriations for the American Folklife Center for fiscal years 1985 and 1986, and for other purposes.

Public Law 98-392 · S. 2556 · 98th Congress · began in the Senate

Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Aug 21, 1984 · Arts, Culture, Religion

Sponsor: Sen. Charles Mathias (R-MD)

Cosponsors: None

Passage votes

  • HouseVoice vote
  • SenateVoice vote
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Amends the American Folklife Preservation Act to extend the authorization of appropriations for the American Folklife Center, located at the Library of Congress, through FY 1986.

Prohibits any such funds for FY 1985 or FY 1986 from being used for pay, benefits, or other expenses of any personnel position established after the date of enactment of this Act.

Authorizes the Capitol Police Board to designate certain portions of the Capitol grounds, with specified exceptions, for use exclusively as play areas for the benefit of children attending a day care center for children of Members and employees of the Senate or the House of Representatives. Provides that any such designations shall be with the approval of specified congressional committees. Directs the Architect of the Capitol to enclose with a fence any such designated play area. Provides that the congressional committee approving such designation may terminate the authority to use such area as a play area at any time. Permits any such day care center to place playground equipment within such area. Refers to a specified day care center as one for which such play area designation may be made.

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 13 actions.

  1. Aug 21, 1984Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 98-392.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Aug 17, 1984PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Aug 9, 1984Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to the House amendments by Voice Vote.
  5. FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
  6. Aug 8, 1984FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
  7. FloorFloor · Called up by House by Unanimous Consent.
  8. May 22, 1984FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
  9. May 8, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Rules and Administration Committee
  10. May 1, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Rules and Administration Committee
  11. Apr 26, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Senate Rules and Administration Committee
  12. Apr 11, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Rules and Administration Committee
  13. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.