A bill making urgent supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1985, for emergency relief and recovery in Africa, and for other purposes.
Public Law 99-10 · H.R. 1239 · 99th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Apr 4, 1985 · Economics and Public Finance
Sponsor: Rep. Jamie Whitten (D-MS-1)
Cosponsors: None
Passage votesYeaNay
- HouseRecorded vote: 400 yea, 19 nay400–19
- 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 - Makes supplemental appropriations for FY 1985 for: (1) Public Law 480 for agricultural commodities for African famine relief programs, provided that funds shall be available for inland transportation if the Administrator of the Agency for International Development (AID) certifies that without such funds the delivery of emergency food would be impossible or inappropriately delayed; (2) AID for international disaster assistance in Africa provided such assistance shall remain available until March 31, 1986, and shall be available for carrying out basic agricultural rehabilitation and provided the congressional appropriations committees are notified five days before the obligation of any such sums; (3) AID for operating expenses in Africa; and (4) the Department of State for the U.S. Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund and for migration and refugee assistance in Africa, provided the migration and refugee assistance funds shall remain available until March 31, 1986.
Title II - Makes supplemental appropriations to remain available through FY 1986 for Public Law 480 famine relief programs as an Emergency Reserve for African Famine Relief.
Title III - Sets forth general provisions governing the use of funds appropriated by this Act.
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to make available for calendar year 1985, through private voluntary organizations, to African nations not less than 200,000 metric tons of farm commodities. Requires at least 50 percent of such commodities to be in the form of wheat or wheat products. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture, before such commodities are made available, to certify to specified congressional committees that such commodities shall not be distributed through or come under the control of the Government of Ethiopia.
Who voted for it
Every House member of the 99th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 405 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.
405 yea19 nay8 present or did not vote
Democrats who voted yea(247)
- Rep. Bill ClayD-MO-1
- Rep. Parren MitchellD-MD-7
- Rep. Henry GonzálezD-TX-20
- Rep. Mervyn DymallyD-CA-31
Rep. John ConyersD-MI-1- Rep. Gus SavageD-IL-2
- Rep. Charles HayesD-IL-1
- Rep. Edward RoybalD-CA-25
- Rep. Mickey LelandD-TX-18
- Rep. Ronald DellumsD-CA-8
- Rep. Louis StokesD-OH-21
- Rep. Don EdwardsD-CA-10
Rep. Ed TownsD-NY-11- Rep. Major OwensD-NY-12
- Rep. George CrockettD-MI-13
- Rep. Theodore WeissD-NY-17
- Rep. Robert GarciaD-NY-18
Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-16- Rep. Carl PerkinsD-KY-7
- Rep. Sala BurtonD-CA-5
Rep. Pete StarkD-CA-9- Rep. Joseph AddabboD-NY-6
- Rep. William LehmanD-FL-17
- Rep. Cardiss CollinsD-IL-7
- Rep. David BoniorD-MI-12
- Rep. Peter RodinoD-NJ-10
- Rep. Alan WheatD-MO-5
- Rep. Harold FordD-TN-9
Rep. Steny HoyerD-MD-5- Rep. William CoyneD-PA-14
Rep. Nick RahallD-WV-4
Rep. Barbara BoxerD-CA-6
Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8- Rep. Mary OakarD-OH-20
- Rep. George BrownD-CA-36
- Rep. Julian DixonD-CA-28
- Rep. Martin SaboD-MN-5
Rep. Gary AckermanD-NY-7
Rep. Ed MarkeyD-MA-7- Rep. Norman MinetaD-CA-13
- Rep. William GrayD-PA-2
- Rep. Gerry StuddsD-MA-10
Rep. Barney FrankD-MA-4
Rep. Daniel AkakaD-HI-2- Rep. Michael LowryD-WA-7
- Rep. Robert KastenmeierD-WI-2
Rep. Dale KildeeD-MI-7- Rep. William FordD-MI-15
- Rep. Esteban TorresD-CA-34
- Rep. Lane EvansD-IL-17
Rep. Henry WaxmanD-CA-24- Rep. Victor FazioD-CA-4
- Rep. Gus HawkinsD-CA-29
- Rep. Bill AlexanderD-AR-1
- Rep. John WilliamsD-MT-1
- Rep. Robert MatsuiD-CA-3
- Rep. James ScheuerD-NY-8
Rep. George MillerD-CA-7- Rep. John SeiberlingD-OH-14
Rep. John DingellD-MI-16- Rep. Thomas FogliettaD-PA-1
Rep. Howard BermanD-CA-26- Rep. Meldon LevineD-CA-27
- Rep. Bruce MorrisonD-CT-3
- Rep. James WrightD-TX-12
- Rep. Allan SwiftD-WA-2
- Rep. James HowardD-NJ-3
- Rep. Matthew MartínezD-CA-30
- Rep. Michael BarnesD-MD-8
- Rep. Jim MoodyD-WI-5
- Rep. Morris UdallD-AZ-2
- Rep. Anthony CoelhoD-CA-15
- Rep. Lindy BoggsD-LA-2
- Rep. Claude PepperD-FL-18
- Rep. James WeaverD-OR-4
- Rep. Anthony BeilensonD-CA-23
- Rep. Bruce VentoD-MN-4
- Rep. Thomas FoleyD-WA-5
- Rep. Thomas MantonD-NY-9
Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7- Rep. Albert BustamanteD-TX-23
- Rep. Stephen SolarzD-NY-13
- Rep. Matthew McHughD-NY-28
Rep. Sander LevinD-MI-17- Rep. Bernard DwyerD-NJ-6
- Rep. Richard LehmanD-CA-18
- Rep. Chester AtkinsD-MA-5
- Rep. Jack BrooksD-TX-9
- Rep. Brian DonnellyD-MA-11
- Rep. John MoakleyD-MA-9
- Rep. Robert BorskiD-PA-3
- Rep. Thomas DowneyD-NY-2
- Rep. Dick GephardtD-MO-3
- Rep. Sam GejdensonD-CT-2
- Rep. Robert RoeD-NJ-8
- Rep. Edward BolandD-MA-2
- Rep. Dante FascellD-FL-19
- Rep. Nicholas MavroulesD-MA-6
- Rep. Charles PriceD-IL-21
Rep. Barbara MikulskiD-MD-3- Rep. Joseph EarlyD-MA-3
- Rep. Robert EdgarD-PA-7
- Rep. Martin FrostD-TX-24
- Rep. Daniel RostenkowskiD-IL-8
- Rep. Jerome TraxlerD-MI-8
Rep. Solomon OrtizD-TX-27- Rep. Robert YoungD-MO-2
- Rep. Walter JonesD-NC-1
Rep. Chuck SchumerD-NY-10- Rep. Henry NowakD-NY-33
- Rep. Howard WolpeD-MI-3
- Rep. Fernand St. GermainD-RI-1
- Rep. Kenneth GrayD-IL-22
- Rep. Frank GuariniD-NJ-14
- Rep. Kika de la GarzaD-TX-15
Rep. Norm DicksD-WA-6
Rep. Peter ViscloskyD-IN-1- Rep. Stanley LundineD-NY-34
- Rep. Tom LantosD-CA-11
- Rep. James FlorioD-NJ-1
- Rep. Don BonkerD-WA-3
- Rep. Harley StaggersD-WV-2
- Rep. Berkley BedellD-IA-6
- Rep. Frank AnnunzioD-IL-11
- Rep. Jerry KleczkaD-WI-4
Rep. John MurthaD-PA-12- Rep. Leon PanettaD-CA-16
- Rep. Robert MrazekD-NY-3
- Rep. William NatcherD-KY-2
- Rep. Barbara KennellyD-CT-1
- Rep. Bill HefnerD-NC-8
- Rep. Charles RoseD-NC-7
- Rep. Ronald ColemanD-TX-16
- Rep. Donald PeaseD-OH-13
- Rep. Leslie AspinD-WI-1
- Rep. Peter KostmayerD-PA-8
- Rep. William RichardsonD-NM-3
Rep. Alan MollohanD-WV-1
Rep. Rick BoucherD-VA-9- Rep. Edward FeighanD-OH-19
- Rep. Douglas BoscoD-CA-1
- Rep. Mario BiaggiD-NY-19
- Rep. Douglas WalgrenD-PA-18
- Rep. Robert TorricelliD-NJ-9
- Rep. Joseph GaydosD-PA-20
Rep. Marcy KapturD-OH-9- Rep. Jamie WhittenD-MS-1
- Rep. Robert WiseD-WV-3
- Rep. Joseph KolterD-PA-4
- Rep. James TraficantD-OH-17
- Rep. Dennis HertelD-MI-14
- Rep. Beryl AnthonyD-AR-4
- Rep. Michael SynarD-OK-2
- Rep. Lawrence SmithD-FL-16
- Rep. Neal SmithD-IA-4
- Rep. Jim BatesD-CA-44
- Rep. Charles WilsonD-TX-2
- Rep. Glenn AndersonD-CA-32
- Rep. Ed JonesD-TN-8
- Rep. Martin RussoD-IL-3
- Rep. Terry BruceD-IL-19
- Rep. Charles WhitleyD-NC-3
- Rep. Daniel MicaD-FL-14
- Rep. Tom DaschleD-SD
- Rep. William LipinskiD-IL-5
- Rep. Charles DowdyD-MS-4
Rep. Harry ReidD-NV-1- Rep. Tony HallD-OH-3
Rep. Bart GordonD-TN-6- Rep. Dennis EckartD-OH-11
Rep. Richard DurbinD-IL-20- Rep. William BonerD-TN-5
- Rep. John LaFalceD-NY-32
- Rep. Charles HatcherD-GA-2
Rep. Ron WydenD-OR-3
Rep. Jim CooperD-TN-4
Rep. Byron DorganD-ND- Rep. Don FuquaD-FL-2
- Rep. Tom BevillD-AL-4
- Rep. Timothy WirthD-CO-2
- Rep. Les AuCoinD-OR-1
Rep. John SprattD-SC-5
Rep. Paul KanjorskiD-PA-11- Rep. Thomas LukenD-OH-1
- Rep. Wyche FowlerD-GA-5
- Rep. Norman SisiskyD-VA-4
- Rep. Gerald SikorskiD-MN-6
- Rep. William ChappellD-FL-4
- Rep. Gus YatronD-PA-6
- Rep. Ronnie FlippoD-AL-5
- Rep. Bob CarrD-MI-6
- Rep. Charles BennettD-FL-3
- Rep. Austin MurphyD-PA-22
- Rep. Wes WatkinsD-OK-3
- Rep. Lee HamiltonD-IN-9
- Rep. Jake PickleD-TX-10
- Rep. Stephen NealD-NC-5
- Rep. Michael AndrewsD-TX-25
- Rep. Butler DerrickD-SC-3
- Rep. Cecil HeftelD-HI-1
- Rep. Philip SharpD-IN-2
- Rep. James RowlandD-GA-8
- Rep. Patricia SchroederD-CO-1
- Rep. Buddy MacKayD-FL-6
Rep. Ike SkeltonD-MO-4- Rep. Robert ThomasD-GA-1
- Rep. Sam GibbonsD-FL-7
- Rep. Harold VolkmerD-MO-9
- Rep. Tim ValentineD-NC-2
- Rep. Daniel GlickmanD-KS-4
- Rep. David McCurdyD-OK-4
Rep. Thomas CarperD-DE- Rep. William HughesD-NJ-2
- Rep. Robin TallonD-SC-6
- Rep. Douglas ApplegateD-OH-18
- Rep. Ed JenkinsD-GA-9
- Rep. Romano MazzoliD-KY-3
- Rep. Ben ErdreichD-AL-6
- Rep. James OlinD-VA-6
- Rep. James SlatteryD-KS-2
- Rep. Andrew JacobsD-IN-10
- Rep. Samuel StrattonD-NY-23
- Rep. Buddy DardenD-GA-7
Rep. Bill NelsonD-FL-11- Rep. James JonesD-OK-1
Rep. Richard ShelbyD-AL-7- Rep. Beverly ByronD-MD-6
- Rep. Timothy PennyD-MN-1
- Rep. Tommy RobinsonD-AR-2
- Rep. John BreauxD-LA-7
- Rep. William NicholsD-AL-3
- Rep. Royden DysonD-MD-1
- Rep. Druie BarnardD-GA-10
- Rep. Glenn EnglishD-OK-6
- Rep. Thomas HuckabyD-LA-5
- Rep. Billy TauzinD-LA-3
- Rep. James LeathD-TX-11
- Rep. Earl HuttoD-FL-1
- Rep. Sonny MontgomeryD-MS-3
- Rep. Marilyn LloydD-TN-3
- Rep. Richard RayD-GA-3
- Rep. Carroll HubbardD-KY-1
- Rep. Sam HallD-TX-1
- Rep. Dan DanielD-VA-5
- Rep. Buddy RoemerD-LA-4
Rep. Ralph HallD-TX-4- Rep. Charlie StenholmD-TX-17
Republicans who voted yea(158)
- Rep. Stewart McKinneyR-CT-4
- Rep. Silvio ConteR-MA-1
- Rep. Bill GreenR-NY-15
- Rep. Frank HortonR-NY-29
- Rep. Claudine SchneiderR-RI-2
- Rep. Jim JeffordsR-VT
Rep. Chris SmithR-NJ-4- Rep. Benjamin GilmanR-NY-22
- Rep. Matthew RinaldoR-NJ-7
- Rep. Hamilton FishR-NY-21
- Rep. Joseph McDadeR-PA-10
- Rep. Nancy JohnsonR-CT-6
Rep. Olympia SnoweR-ME-2- Rep. Sherry BoehlertR-NY-25
- Rep. Robert DavisR-MI-11
- Rep. William ClingerR-PA-23
- Rep. Jim LeachR-IA-1
- Rep. Carl PursellR-MI-2
- Rep. George O’BrienR-IL-4
Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16- Rep. Marge RoukemaR-NJ-5
- Rep. Robert CoughlinR-PA-13
- Rep. George WortleyR-NY-27
- Rep. Joseph DioGuardiR-NY-20
- Rep. Thomas RidgeR-PA-21
- Rep. John McKernanR-ME-1
- Rep. Chalmers WylieR-OH-15
- Rep. John MillerR-WA-1
- Rep. Sidney MorrisonR-WA-4
- Rep. John MyersR-IN-7
- Rep. Willis GradisonR-OH-2
- Rep. John DuncanR-TN-2
Rep. Don YoungR-AK- Rep. David MartinR-NY-26
- Rep. James QuillenR-TN-1
- Rep. John RowlandR-CT-5
- Rep. Raymond McGrathR-NY-5
- Rep. Paul HenryR-MI-5
- Rep. Virginia SmithR-NE-3
- Rep. Jan MeyersR-KS-3
- Rep. Norman LentR-NY-4
- Rep. Herbert BatemanR-VA-1
- Rep. William MooreR-LA-6
- Rep. Elwood HillisR-IN-5
Rep. Jim SaxtonR-NJ-13- Rep. Steven GundersonR-WI-3
Rep. Tom PetriR-WI-6- Rep. Richard SchulzeR-PA-5
- Rep. William BroomfieldR-MI-18
- Rep. Marion SnyderR-KY-4
- Rep. Doug BereuterR-NE-1
Rep. Frank WolfR-VA-10- Rep. Rodney ChandlerR-WA-8
- Rep. Guy MolinariR-NY-14
- Rep. Charles PashayanR-CA-17
- Rep. John PorterR-IL-10
- Rep. Dean GalloR-NJ-11
- Rep. Jack KempR-NY-31
- Rep. William GoodlingR-PA-19
- Rep. James BroyhillR-NC-10
- Rep. John HammerschmidtR-AR-3
- Rep. Donald RitterR-PA-15
- Rep. Earl ColemanR-MO-6
- Rep. James CourterR-NJ-12
- Rep. Stanford ParrisR-VA-8
- Rep. George WhitehurstR-VA-2
- Rep. Larry HopkinsR-KY-6
- Rep. Edward MadiganR-IL-15
- Rep. Manuel LujánR-NM-1
- Rep. Thomas TaukeR-IA-2
Rep. John McCainR-AZ-1- Rep. Marjorie HoltR-MD-4
Rep. Hal RogersR-KY-5- Rep. Alex McMillanR-NC-9
- Rep. Thomas EvansR-IA-3
- Rep. William FranklinR-MS-2
- Rep. Bill SchuetteR-MI-10
- Rep. William HendonR-NC-11
- Rep. Arlan StangelandR-MN-7
- Rep. John KasichR-OH-12
- Rep. Gene TaylorR-MO-7
- Rep. Bill EmersonR-MO-8
- Rep. Guy Vander JagtR-MI-9
- Rep. Carroll CampbellR-SC-4
Rep. W. Bill YoungR-FL-8- Rep. Bob McEwenR-OH-6
- Rep. Floyd SpenceR-SC-2
Rep. Daniel CoatsR-IN-4- Rep. William LoweryR-CA-41
- Rep. Joseph SkeenR-NM-2
- Rep. Robert LivingstonR-LA-1
- Rep. Mickey EdwardsR-OK-5
- Rep. James LightfootR-IA-5
- Rep. Tom BlileyR-VA-3
- Rep. Robert WhittakerR-KS-5
- Rep. Henry HydeR-IL-6
- Rep. Thomas LewisR-FL-12
- Rep. William CarneyR-NY-1
- Rep. H. CallahanR-AL-1
- Rep. William DickinsonR-AL-2
- Rep. William FrenzelR-MN-3
Rep. Jerry LewisR-CA-35- Rep. Toby RothR-WI-8
- Rep. Robert SmithR-OR-2
- Rep. Edwin ZschauR-CA-12
- Rep. Robert MichelR-IL-18
- Rep. Bill ThomasR-CA-20
- Rep. Jim KolbeR-AZ-5
- Rep. Donald SundquistR-TN-7
- Rep. Harris FawellR-IL-13
- Rep. Lynn MartinR-IL-16
- Rep. Clay ShawR-FL-15
- Rep. Bill McCollumR-FL-5
- Rep. Daniel SlaughterR-VA-7
- Rep. George GekasR-PA-17
- Rep. Delbert LattaR-OH-5
- Rep. Mike DeWineR-OH-7
- Rep. Thomas KindnessR-OH-8
- Rep. Michael BilirakisR-FL-9
- Rep. Fred EckertR-NY-30
- Rep. Hal DaubR-NE-2
- Rep. Ron PackardR-CA-43
Rep. Pat RobertsR-KS-1- Rep. John GrotbergR-IL-14
- Rep. Newton GingrichR-GA-6
- Rep. Kenneth KramerR-CO-5
- Rep. Robert LagomarsinoR-CA-19
- Rep. Mark SiljanderR-MI-4
- Rep. Thomas LoefflerR-TX-21
- Rep. Andy IrelandR-FL-10
- Rep. John HilerR-IN-3
- Rep. Bobbi FiedlerR-CA-21
Rep. Trent LottR-MS-5- Rep. Michael OxleyR-OH-4
- Rep. Barbara VucanovichR-NV-2
- Rep. Larry CombestR-TX-19
- Rep. Eldon BoulterR-TX-13
- Rep. Eugene ChappieR-CA-2
Rep. Duncan HunterR-CA-45- Rep. Michael StrangR-CO-3
- Rep. Ronald MarleneeR-MT-2
- Rep. Gerald SolomonR-NY-24
- Rep. William CobeyR-NC-4
Rep. Judd GreggR-NH-2- Rep. Dan SchaeferR-CO-6
Rep. James SensenbrennerR-WI-9- Rep. Howard NielsonR-UT-3
- Rep. Bill ArcherR-TX-7
- Rep. Carlos MoorheadR-CA-22
- Rep. Alfred McCandlessR-CA-37
Rep. Daniel LungrenR-CA-42- Rep. Robert BadhamR-CA-40
- Rep. Bob SmithR-NH-1
- Rep. Norman ShumwayR-CA-14
- Rep. Steve BartlettR-TX-3
- Rep. Robert WalkerR-PA-16
- Rep. David MonsonR-UT-2
Rep. David DreierR-CA-33
Data notes
The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 39 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.
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. 28 actions.
- Apr 4, 1985Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 99-10.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Apr 2, 1985Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendment to Senate amendments 2, 6, 8, 9, and 14. 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 · Conference report considered in Senate.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Receded and Concurred With an Amendment in Senate Amendments 002, 006, 008, 009, 014.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Receded and Concurred in Senate Amendment 013.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Agreed to Conference Report by Yea-Nay Vote: 400 - 19 (Record Vote No: 40).House roll call 40
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House Agreed to Conference Report by Yea-Nay Vote: 400 - 19 (Record Vote No: 40).House roll call 40
- Mar 27, 1985Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference Report 99-29 Filed in House.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference Report 99-29 Filed in House.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conferees agreed to file conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference committee actions: Conferees agreed to file conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Agreed to Request for Conference and Speaker Appointed Conferees: Whitten, Natcher, Obey, Traxler, McHugh, Conte, Kemp, Smith (NE).
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Disagreed to Senate Amendments by Unanimous Consent.
- Mar 20, 1985Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate insists on its amendments, asks for a conference, appoints conferees Hatfield; Stevens; Cochran; Kasten; Stennis; Inouye; Burdick.
- FloorFloor · Passed Senate with amendments by Yea-Nay Vote. 98-1. Record Vote No: 21.Senate roll call 21
- FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
- Mar 5, 1985CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Appropriations Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Appropriations Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Appropriations Committee
- Feb 28, 1985FloorFloor · Passed House by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · Rule Passed House.
- Feb 26, 1985FloorFloor · Committee on Rules Granted a Rule Waiving all Points of Order Against Consideration of the Bill for Failure to Comply with the Provisons of Clause 2 of Rule XXI.
- Feb 25, 1985CommitteeCommittee · Reported original measure by House Appropriations Committee
- Feb 21, 1985IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
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.