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A joint resolution to designate 1986 as "Save for the U.S.A. Year", and for other purposes.

Public Law 99-202 · H.J.Res. 436 · 99th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Dec 23, 1985 · Commemorations

Sponsor: Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH-9)

Cosponsors (226): Rep. Steve Bartlett,

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.

Designates 1986 as Save for the U.S.A. Year. Requests the President to initiate a nationwide campaign, to be known as the Buy Back America campaign, to encourage the people of the United States to buy U.S. savings bonds and certificates and thereby reduce borrowings from foreign sources. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to enhance the marketability of such bonds and certificates.

Committees

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

  • Financial Services Committee · House · discharged from, referred toSubcommittee: Consumer Affairs and Coinage Subcommittee
  • Post Office and Civil Service Committee · House · discharged from, referred to
  • Judiciary Committee · Senate · discharged from, referred to
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. 14 actions.

  1. Dec 23, 1985Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 99-202.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Dec 18, 1985PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Dec 16, 1985FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Voice Vote.
  5. CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Senate Judiciary Committee
  6. Dec 12, 1985FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
  7. FloorFloor · Called up by House by Unanimous Consent.
  8. CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from House Financial Services Committee
  9. CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from House Post Office and Civil Service Committee
  10. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee
  11. Dec 10, 1985CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Post Office and Civil Service Committee
  12. Nov 15, 1985CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Consumer Affairs and Coinage Subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee
  13. Oct 30, 1985CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Financial Services Committee
  14. IntroducedIntroduced · 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.

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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.