Congressional Operations Appropriation Act, 1984
Public Law 98-51 · H.R. 3135 · 98th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Jul 14, 1983 · Economics and Public Finance
Sponsor: Rep. Victor Fazio (D-CA-4)
Cosponsors: None
Passage votesYeaNay
- HouseRecorded vote: 241 yea, 175 nay241–175
- 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.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
(House receded and concurred in certain Senate amendments with an amendment)
Title I: Congressional Operations - Congressional Operations Appropriation Act, 1984 - Appropriates funds for FY 1984 for the operations of the Senate for the following: (1) mileage of the Vice President and Senators; (2) Senate leadership offices; (3) salaries and expenses for officers and employees; and (4) miscellaneous items.
Establishes within the Offices of the Majority and Minority Leaders the positions of Assistant to the Majority Leader for Floor Operations and Assistant to the Minority Leader for Floor Operations, respectively. Abolishes such positions as established by the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1977.
Amends the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1973, to authorize the reimbursement of essential travel-related expenses to Senators and their office employees. Defines such expenses as those essential to the transaction of official business while away from official stations or posts of duty.
Establishes separate accounts within the contingent fund of the Senate for the Secretary of the Senate and the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate. Abolishes certain other separate accounts and provides for the maintenance of such funds under the accounts established by this Act.
Makes longevity compensation provisions of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1963, inapplicable to Senate employees after a certain date.
Appropriates funds for FY 1984 for the operations of the House of Representatives for the following: (1) mileage of Members; (2) House leadership offices; (3) salaries for officers and employees; (4) professional and clerical employees of standing committees; (5) studies and investigations by the Committee on Appropriations and studies by the Committee on the Budget; (6) Members' clerk hire; (7) contingent expenses; and (8) salaries and expenses of special and select committees.
Prohibits the use of funds for any user-reimbursement program requiring reimbursement to the Committees or Leadership offices of the House of Representatives for House Information Systems computer services and equipment.
Makes permanent certain provisions of previously approved resolutions relating to: (1) the additional position of captain on the Capitol Police; (2) compensation of the Postmaster of the House; (3) a revolving fund for the page residence hall and the page meal plan; (4) telephone operator positions; (5) the transport of official records of Members; and (6) the compensation of the Chaplain of the House.
Makes certain service of employees of the House Beauty Shop creditable service for retirement purposes.
Makes appropriations for the following joint items: (1) contingent expenses of the Senate for the Joint Economic Committee and the Joint Committee on Printing; (2) contingent expenses of the House for the Joint Committee on Taxation; (3) the Office of the Attending Physician; (4) the Capitol Police for general expenses and the Capitol Police Board; (5) the education of congressional pages; (6) official mail costs; (7) salaries and expenses of the Capitol Guide Service; and (8) the preparation of required statements of appropriations.
Appropriates funds for the following congressional offices: (1) the Office of Technology Assessment for salaries and expenses; (2) the Congressional Budget Office for salaries and expenses; (3) the Architect of the Capitol for salaries, contingent expenses, the Capitol buildings and grounds, Senate office buildings, House office buildings, and the Capitol powerplant; (4) the Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress for salaries and expenses; and (5) the Government Printing Office for congressional printing and binding.
Title II: Other Agencies - Appropriates funds for the following congressional agencies: (1) the Botanic Garden for salaries and expenses; (2) the Library of Congress for salaries and expenses, including the Copyright Office, Books for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Collection and Distribution of Library Materials (Special Foreign Currency Program), and furniture and furnishings; (3) the Architect of the Capitol for Library buildings and grounds and the Congressional Cemetery; (4) the Copyright Royalty Tribunal for salaries and expenses; (5) the Government Printing Office for certain printing and binding, the Office of Superintendent of Documents, and the Government Printing Office revolving fund; and (6) the General Accounting Office for salaries and expenses.
Sets forth uses and limitations regarding funds appropriated to the Library of Congress. Exempts 15 positions in the Library from the prohibition against employing aliens.
Title III: General Provisions - Prohibits the use of funds provided by this Act for general maintenance and care of private vehicles.
Prohibits the obligation of such funds beyond the current fiscal year unless expressly so provided.
Makes permanent law the rates of compensation and certain official expenses provided under this Act.
Limits the expenditure of such appropriations for procurement contracts to those contracts that are a matter of public record and available for public inspection.
Limits certain executive, congressional, judicial, and District of Columbia government salary rates to those rates payable as of the date of enactment of this Act. Reduces salary rates prescribed by law to such payable rates.
Who voted for it
Every House member of the 98th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 243 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.
243 yea177 nay13 present or did not vote
Democrats who voted yea(203)
- Rep. Parren MitchellD-MD-7
- Rep. Sam GejdensonD-CT-2
- Rep. Martin SaboD-MN-5
Rep. John ConyersD-MI-1- Rep. Mickey LelandD-TX-18
- Rep. Julian DixonD-CA-28
- Rep. Edward RoybalD-CA-25
- Rep. Henry GonzálezD-TX-20
- Rep. Sala BurtonD-CA-5
- Rep. William GrayD-PA-2
- Rep. William LehmanD-FL-17
- Rep. Louis StokesD-OH-21
- Rep. Robert GarciaD-NY-18
Rep. Gary AckermanD-NY-7- Rep. William FordD-MI-15
- Rep. Gus SavageD-IL-2
- Rep. Theodore WeissD-NY-17
- Rep. Mervyn DymallyD-CA-31
- Rep. Gus HawkinsD-CA-29
- Rep. William CoyneD-PA-14
Rep. Ed MarkeyD-MA-7
Rep. Ed TownsD-NY-11- Rep. Joseph AddabboD-NY-6
- Rep. David BoniorD-MI-12
Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-16
Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8- Rep. Don EdwardsD-CA-10
- Rep. Richard OttingerD-NY-20
- Rep. Cardiss CollinsD-IL-7
- Rep. Alan WheatD-MO-5
- Rep. Katie HallD-IN-1
- Rep. Major OwensD-NY-12
Rep. Howard BermanD-CA-26- Rep. Esteban TorresD-CA-34
- Rep. James ShannonD-MA-5
Rep. Barbara BoxerD-CA-6- Rep. Ronald DellumsD-CA-8
- Rep. George CrockettD-MI-13
- Rep. Bill ClayD-MO-1
Rep. Daniel AkakaD-HI-2- Rep. Thomas FogliettaD-PA-1
- Rep. James HowardD-NJ-3
- Rep. Michael LowryD-WA-7
Rep. Henry WaxmanD-CA-24- Rep. Peter RodinoD-NJ-10
- Rep. Sidney YatesD-IL-9
- Rep. John SeiberlingD-OH-14
- Rep. Meldon LevineD-CA-27
- Rep. Norman MinetaD-CA-13
Rep. Chuck SchumerD-NY-10- Rep. John MoakleyD-MA-9
- Rep. Robert MatsuiD-CA-3
Rep. Pete StarkD-CA-9- Rep. Anthony CoelhoD-CA-15
- Rep. George BrownD-CA-36
- Rep. Robert KastenmeierD-WI-2
- Rep. Geraldine FerraroD-NY-9
- Rep. Harold FordD-TN-9
Rep. Steny HoyerD-MD-5
Rep. Dale KildeeD-MI-7- Rep. Bill AlexanderD-AR-1
- Rep. Carl PerkinsD-KY-7
Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7- Rep. Bruce VentoD-MN-4
- Rep. Victor FazioD-CA-4
Rep. Barney FrankD-MA-4- Rep. Barbara KennellyD-CT-1
- Rep. Nicholas MavroulesD-MA-6
- Rep. Thomas DowneyD-NY-2
- Rep. Thomas FoleyD-WA-5
- Rep. Tom LantosD-CA-11
- Rep. Richard LehmanD-CA-18
- Rep. Lane EvansD-IL-17
- Rep. Robert BorskiD-PA-3
- Rep. Clement ZablockiD-WI-4
- Rep. Gerry StuddsD-MA-10
- Rep. James ScheuerD-NY-8
- Rep. Claude PepperD-FL-18
- Rep. Robert EdgarD-PA-7
- Rep. Allan SwiftD-WA-2
- Rep. Bernard DwyerD-NJ-6
- Rep. Robert RoeD-NJ-8
- Rep. Henry NowakD-NY-33
- Rep. Jerome TraxlerD-MI-8
- Rep. Stephen SolarzD-NY-13
- Rep. Bruce MorrisonD-CT-3
- Rep. William RatchfordD-CT-5
- Rep. Frank AnnunzioD-IL-11
- Rep. Gillis LongD-LA-8
- Rep. Dick GephardtD-MO-3
- Rep. Charles PriceD-IL-21
Rep. Barbara MikulskiD-MD-3- Rep. Charles RoseD-NC-7
- Rep. Frank GuariniD-NJ-14
Rep. George MillerD-CA-7- Rep. Raymond KogovsekD-CO-3
- Rep. Martin FrostD-TX-24
- Rep. Lawrence SmithD-FL-16
- Rep. Lindy BoggsD-LA-2
- Rep. Anthony BeilensonD-CA-23
- Rep. Morris UdallD-AZ-2
- Rep. Dante FascellD-FL-19
- Rep. Paul SimonD-IL-22
- Rep. Edward BolandD-MA-2
- Rep. James WrightD-TX-12
- Rep. Jack BrooksD-TX-9
- Rep. Fernand St. GermainD-RI-1
Rep. Sander LevinD-MI-17- Rep. Timothy WirthD-CO-2
- Rep. Michael BarnesD-MD-8
- Rep. Joseph EarlyD-MA-3
- Rep. Matthew McHughD-NY-28
- Rep. Harley StaggersD-WV-2
- Rep. John BryantD-TX-5
- Rep. Brian DonnellyD-MA-11
Rep. Rick BoucherD-VA-9- Rep. Mario BiaggiD-NY-19
Rep. John MurthaD-PA-12- Rep. Don BonkerD-WA-3
- Rep. Jim MoodyD-WI-5
- Rep. James FlorioD-NJ-1
- Rep. Peter KostmayerD-PA-8
- Rep. William NatcherD-KY-2
Rep. Ron WydenD-OR-3
Rep. Solomon OrtizD-TX-27
Rep. Alan MollohanD-WV-1- Rep. Clarence LongD-MD-2
- Rep. Kika de la GarzaD-TX-15
Rep. Harry ReidD-NV-1- Rep. Robert TorricelliD-NJ-9
Rep. Norm DicksD-WA-6- Rep. Ronald ColemanD-TX-16
- Rep. Stanley LundineD-NY-34
- Rep. James McNultyD-AZ-5
- Rep. Ed JonesD-TN-8
- Rep. Daniel RostenkowskiD-IL-8
- Rep. Jamie WhittenD-MS-1
- Rep. Jim BatesD-CA-44
- Rep. Francis McCloskeyD-IN-8
- Rep. John WilliamsD-MT-1
- Rep. Donald PeaseD-OH-13
- Rep. Donald AlbostaD-MI-10
- Rep. Joseph GaydosD-PA-20
- Rep. Michael SynarD-OK-2
- Rep. Robert YoungD-MO-2
- Rep. James ClarkeD-NC-11
Rep. Nick RahallD-WV-4- Rep. John LaFalceD-NY-32
- Rep. William BonerD-TN-5
- Rep. James WeaverD-OR-4
- Rep. Joseph MinishD-NJ-11
- Rep. Jerry PattersonD-CA-38
- Rep. Bill HefnerD-NC-8
- Rep. Charles DowdyD-MS-4
- Rep. Wyche FowlerD-GA-5
- Rep. Albert GoreD-TN-6
- Rep. Edward FeighanD-OH-19
- Rep. Cecil HeftelD-HI-1
- Rep. Douglas WalgrenD-PA-18
- Rep. Tom BevillD-AL-4
- Rep. Charles HatcherD-GA-2
- Rep. Tony HallD-OH-3
- Rep. Don FuquaD-FL-2
- Rep. Martin RussoD-IL-3
- Rep. Berkley BedellD-IA-6
- Rep. Thomas LukenD-OH-1
- Rep. Gus YatronD-PA-6
- Rep. Beryl AnthonyD-AR-4
- Rep. Jake PickleD-TX-10
- Rep. Neal SmithD-IA-4
- Rep. Ronnie FlippoD-AL-5
- Rep. Charles WilsonD-TX-2
- Rep. Butler DerrickD-SC-3
- Rep. Ike AndrewsD-NC-4
- Rep. Patricia SchroederD-CO-1
- Rep. Wes WatkinsD-OK-3
- Rep. Les AuCoinD-OR-1
- Rep. Charles BrittD-NC-6
- Rep. William ChappellD-FL-4
- Rep. Charles WhitleyD-NC-3
Rep. John SprattD-SC-5- Rep. Abraham KazenD-TX-23
- Rep. Daniel MicaD-FL-14
Rep. Byron DorganD-ND
Rep. Jim CooperD-TN-4- Rep. Stephen NealD-NC-5
- Rep. Romano MazzoliD-KY-3
- Rep. Robin TallonD-SC-6
- Rep. Royden DysonD-MD-1
- Rep. Austin MurphyD-PA-22
- Rep. James RowlandD-GA-8
- Rep. Lee HamiltonD-IN-9
- Rep. Norman D’AmoursD-NH-1
- Rep. Robert ThomasD-GA-1
- Rep. Samuel StrattonD-NY-23
- Rep. Norman SisiskyD-VA-4
- Rep. William LipinskiD-IL-5
- Rep. William HughesD-NJ-2
Rep. Thomas CarperD-DE- Rep. James JonesD-OK-1
- Rep. Jack HightowerD-TX-13
- Rep. Beverly ByronD-MD-6
- Rep. William PatmanD-TX-14
Republicans who voted yea(40)
- Rep. Claudine SchneiderR-RI-2
- Rep. Silvio ConteR-MA-1
- Rep. Stewart McKinneyR-CT-4
- Rep. Bill GreenR-NY-15
- Rep. Frank HortonR-NY-29
- Rep. Matthew RinaldoR-NJ-7
- Rep. Jim JeffordsR-VT
- Rep. Benjamin GilmanR-NY-22
Rep. Chris SmithR-NJ-4- Rep. Joseph McDadeR-PA-10
- Rep. Robert DavisR-MI-11
- Rep. Marge RoukemaR-NJ-5
- Rep. Jack EdwardsR-AL-1
- Rep. George O’BrienR-IL-4
- Rep. Harold SawyerR-MI-5
- Rep. Robert CoughlinR-PA-13
- Rep. John MyersR-IN-7
- Rep. Norman LentR-NY-4
- Rep. Guy MolinariR-NY-14
Rep. Don YoungR-AK- Rep. Marion SnyderR-KY-4
- Rep. John PorterR-IL-10
Rep. Frank WolfR-VA-10
Rep. Hal RogersR-KY-5- Rep. Elwood HillisR-IN-5
- Rep. Virginia SmithR-NE-3
- Rep. Guy Vander JagtR-MI-9
- Rep. Stanford ParrisR-VA-8
- Rep. George WhitehurstR-VA-2
Rep. W. Bill YoungR-FL-8- Rep. Thomas LewisR-FL-12
- Rep. David MarriottR-UT-2
- Rep. Robert MichelR-IL-18
Rep. Jerry LewisR-CA-35- Rep. William LoweryR-CA-41
- Rep. Larry WinnR-KS-3
- Rep. Clay ShawR-FL-15
- Rep. James RobinsonR-VA-7
- Rep. William DickinsonR-AL-2
- Rep. Eldon RuddR-AZ-4
Data notes
The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 217 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Appropriations Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Legislative Subcommittee
Appropriations Committee · Senate · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Legislative Branch Subcommittee
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.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 32 actions.
- Jul 14, 1983Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 98-51.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Jul 5, 1983PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Jun 29, 1983Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendment to Senate amendments 1, 2, and 17. By Voice Vote.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report by Voice Vote.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report by Voice Vote.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Receded and Concurred With an Amendment in Senate Amendments 001, 002, 017.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Receded and Concurred in Senate Amendments 011, 012, 015.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Agreed to Conference Report by Yea-Nay Vote: 241 - 175 (Record Vote No: 228).House roll call 228
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House Agreed to Conference Report by Yea-Nay Vote: 241 - 175 (Record Vote No: 228).House roll call 228
- Jun 28, 1983Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference Report 98-271 Filed in House.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference Report 98-271 Filed in House.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conferees agreed to file conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference committee actions: Conferees agreed to file conference report.
- Jun 23, 1983Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Agreed to Request for Conference and Speaker Appointed Conferees: Fazio, Obey, Murtha, Traxler, Boggs, Hightower, Whitten, Lewis (CA), Conte, Myers, Porter.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Disagreed to Senate Amendments by Unanimous Consent.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate insists on its amendments, asks for a conference, appoints conferees D'Amato; Hatfield; Stevens; Bumpers; Hollings; Stennis.
- FloorFloor · Passed Senate with amendments by Yea-Nay Vote. 78-15. Record Vote No: 170.Senate roll call 170
- FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
- Jun 22, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Appropriations Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Appropriations Committee
- Jun 6, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Appropriations Committee
- Jun 3, 1983FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Yea-Nay Vote: 184 - 104 (Record Vote No: 161).House roll call 161
- FloorFloor · House Agreed to Amendments Adopted by the Committee of the Whole.
- May 25, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Appropriations Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Appropriations Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
- May 11, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Legislative Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee
- Apr 28, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Legislative Branch Subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee
- Mar 2, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Legislative Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee
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.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.