# Vetoes by President Ronald Reagan

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President Ronald W. Reagan vetoed seventy-eight bills.

 
| 100th Congress, 2nd Session (1988)                              Regular Vetoes                          Bill No.              Subject              Veto Date              Presidential Message              StatusS.557              Civil Rights Restoration Act              Mar 16              S.Doc. 100-28              Veto *overridden* by the House on Mar 22 by vote No. 41 (292-133).Veto *overridden* by the Senate on Mar 22 by vote No. 67 (73-24).Veto overriddenH.R.3              Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act              May 24              H.Doc. 100-200              Veto *overridden* by the House on May 24 by vote No. 150 (308-113).The Senate *sustained*the veto on Jun 8 by vote No. 169 (61-37).H.R.4264              National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1989              Aug 03              H.Doc. 100-220              The Senate ordered to table the veto on Aug 4.unchallengedH.R.1154              Textile Apparel and Footwear Trade Act              Sep 28              H.Doc. 100-235              The House *sustained*the veto on Oct 4 by vote No. 426 (272-152).S.1259              To direct the Secretary of the Interior to permit access across certain Federal lands in the state of Arkansas.              Oct 11              S.Doc. 100-39              unchallenged                              Pocket Vetoes                          Bill No.              Subject              Veto Date              Presidential Message              StatusS.437              To amend the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to permit prepayment of loans made to state and local development companies                            1988 H. Jour., 2579              unchallengedS.508              Whistleblower Protection Act                            1988 H. Jour., 2578              unchallengedS.1081              To establish a coordinated National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research program                            1988 H. Jour., 2579              unchallengedS.2751              Montana Natural Resources Protection and Utilization Act                            1988 H. Jour., 2579              unchallengedH.R.2596              Admiralty Island National Monument Land Management Act                            1988 H. Jour., 2579              unchallengedH.R.3621              Southern California Indian Land Transfer Act                            1988 H. Jour., 2576              unchallengedH.R.3966              Children's Television Act                            1988 H. Jour., 2576              unchallengedH.R.4432              To amend title 13, United States Code, to require certain detailed tabulations relating to Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the decennial censuses of population                            1988 H. Jour., 2577              unchallengedH.R.4833              Nurse Education Reauthorization Act of 1988                            1988 H. Jour., 2577              unchallengedH.R.5043              Post-Employment Restrictions Act                            1988 H. Jour., 2577              unchallengedH.R.5560              To amend the Public Health Service Act, and the Health Omnibus Programs Extension of 1988, to make technical corrections relating to Health Omnibus Programs Extension of 1988                            1988 H. Jour., 2577              unchallenged100th Congress, 1st Session (1987)Bill No.              Subject              Veto Date              Presidential Message              StatusH.R.1               Water Quality Act              Jan 30              H.Doc. 100-26              Veto *overridden* by the House on Feb 3 by vote No. 14 (401-26).Veto *overridden* by the Senate on Feb 4 by vote No. 19 (86-14).Veto overriddenH.R.2              Surface Transportation and Uniform Relocation Assistance Act              Mar 27              H.Doc. 100-53              Veto *overridden* by the House on Mar 31 by vote No. 39 (350-73).The Senate *sustained*the veto on Apr 1 by vote No. 51 (65-35).Veto *overridden* by the Senate on Apr 2 by vote No. 60 (67-33).Veto overriddenS.742              Fairness in Broadcasting Act              Jun 19              S.Doc. 100-10              Veto message referred to Committee on Commerce by vote No. 154 (53-45) on June 23, 1987. Unchallenged99th Congress, 2nd Session (1986)                              Regular Vetoes                          Bill No.              Subject              Veto Date              Presidential Message              StatusH.R.1404              To establish the Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge and National Fish and Wildlife Service Training Center at Cape Charles in Northampton County, Virginia              Jan 14              H.Doc. 99-146              unchallengedH.R.3384              Federal Employees Benefits Improvement Act              Jan 17              H.Doc. 99-145              unchallengedH.R.2466              To make miscellaneous changes in laws affecting the United States Coast Guard              Feb 14              H.Doc. 99-166              unchallengedS.J.Res.316              A joint resolution prohibiting the sale to Saudi Arabia of certain defense articles and related defense services              May 21              S.Doc. 99-30              The Senate *sustained*the veto on Jun 5 by vote No. 111 (66-34).H.R.2316              For the relief of Paulette Mendes-Silva              Sep 25              H.Doc. 99-271              unchallengedH.R.3247              Native American Programs Amendments of 1986              Sep 26              H.Doc. 99-274              unchallengedH.R.4868              Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act              Sep 26              H.Doc. 99-273              Veto *overridden* by the House on Sep 29 by vote No. 425 (313-83).Veto *overridden* by the Senate on Oct 2 by vote No. 311 (78-21).Veto overriddenH.R.2787              To extend through fiscal year 1988 Small Business Administration Pilot Programs under section 8 of the Small Business Act              Oct 07              H.Doc. 99-276              unchallengedH.J.Res.748              Continuing Appropriations, Fiscal Year 1987              Oct 09              H.Doc. 99-277              unchallenged                              Pocket Vetoes                          Bill No.              Subject              Veto Date              Presidential Message              StatusS.593              For the relief of Merchants National Bank of Mobile, Alabama                            196 S. Journ., 679              unchallengedS.1128              Water Quality Renewal Act                            196 S. Journ., 681              unchallengedS.2057              To establish the President's Council on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention                            196 S. Journ., 680              unchallengedH.R.4175              To authorize appropriations for certain maritime programs of the Department of Transportation and the Federal Maritime Commission, Fiscal Year 1987                            196 S. Journ., 679              unchallengedH.R.4961              To amend the Independent Safety Board Act of 1974 to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 1987-1989                            196 S. Journ., 680              unchallengedH.R.5465              National Appliance Energy Conservation Act                            196 S. Journ., 680              unchallengedH.R.5495              National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 1987                            196 S. Journ., 681              unchallenged99th Congress, 1st Session (1985)Bill No.              Subject              Veto Date              Presidential Message              StatusH.R.1096              African Famine Relief and Recovery Act              Mar 6              H.Doc. 99-37              unchallengedH.R.2409              Health Research Extension Act              Nov 8              131 Cong. Rec. 31379              Veto *overridden* by the House on Nov 12 by vote No. 400 (380-32).Veto *overridden* by the Senate on Nov 20 by vote No. 321 (89-7).Veto overriddenH.R.3036              Treasury, Postal Service and General Government Appropriations Act, Fiscal Year 1986              Nov 15              H.Doc. 99-130              unchallengedH.R.1562              Textile and Apparel Trade Enforcement Act              Dec 17              H.Doc. 99-137              The House *sustained*the veto on Aug 6 by vote No. 290 (276-149).98th Congress, 2nd Session (1984)                              Regular Vetoes                          Bill No.              Subject              Veto Date              Presidential Message              StatusS.684              Water Resources Research Act              Feb 21              S.Doc. 98-24              Veto *overridden* by the House on Mar 22 by vote No. 53 (309-81).Veto *overridden* by the Senate on Mar 21 by vote No. 35 (86-12).Veto overriddenS.2436              Public Broadcasting Amendments Act              Aug 29              S.Doc. 98-32              unchallengedH.R.1362              For the relief of Joseph Karel Hasek              Oct 08              H.Doc. 98-274              unchallenged                              Pocket Vetoes                          Bill No.              Subject              Veto Date              Presidential Message              StatusS.540              Health Research Extension Act              ,               131 Cong. Rec. 731              unchallengedS.607              Public Broadcasting Amendments              ,               131 Cong. Rec. 732              unchallengedS.1097              National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Atmospheric and Oceanic Research and Services Act of 1984              ,               131 Cong. Rec. 733              unchallengedS.1967              To compensate the Gros Ventre and Assiniboine Tribe of the Fort Belknap Indian Community for irrigation construction expenditures              ,               131 Cong. Rec. 732              unchallengedS.2166              Indian Health Care Amendments of 1984              ,               131 Cong. Rec. 733              unchallengedS.2574              Health Professions and Services Amendments of 1984              ,               131 Cong. Rec. 732              unchallengedH.R.452              For the relief of Jerome J. Hartmann and Rita J. Hartmann                            130 Cong. Rec. 32349              unchallengedH.R.723              For the relief of Marsha D. Christopher                            130 Cong. Rec. 32349              unchallengedH.R.999              American Conservation Corps Act of 1983                            130 Cong. Rec. 32349              unchallengedH.R.2859              For the relief of John Brima Charles                            130 Cong. Rec. 32349              unchallengedH.R.5172              National Bureau of Standards Authorization for Fiscal Years 1984 and 1985                            130 Cong. Rec. 32350              unchallengedH.R.5479              To amend Section 504 of Title 5 and Section 2412 of Title 28, United States Code, with respect to awards of expenses of certain agency and court proceedings                            130 Cong. Rec. 32350              unchallengedH.R.5760              To declare that the United States holds in trust for the Cocopah Indian Tribe of Arizona certain land in Yuma County, Arizona                            130 Cong. Rec. 32350              unchallengedH.R.6248              Armed Career Criminal Act                            130 Cong. Rec. 32349              unchallenged98th Congress, 1st Session (1983)                              Regular Vetoes                          Bill No.              Subject              Veto Date              Presidential Message              StatusS.366              Mashantucket Pequot Indian Claims Settlement Act              Apr 05              S.Doc. 98-4              unchallengedS.973              Technical amendments to the Indian Self Determination and Education Assistance Act              Jun 17              S.Doc. 98-8              unchallengedH.R.3564              Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to make an earlier announcement of the 1984-crop feed grain program              Aug 12              H.Doc. 98-95              H.J.Res.338              Corrections to Public Law 98-63 - Student Financial Assistance              Aug 13              H.Doc. 98-94              unchallengedS.J.Res.149              Prohibits the Secretary of Agriculture from imposing a milk assessment              Aug 23              S.Doc. 98-14              unchallengedH.R.1062              To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain lands in Lane County, Oregon              Oct 19              H.Doc. 98-124              Veto *overridden* by the House on Oct 25 by vote No. 413 (297-125).Veto *overridden* by the Senate on Oct 25 by vote No. 314 (95-0).Veto overridden                              Pocket Vetoes                          Bill No.              Subject              Veto Date              Presidential Message              StatusH.R.4042              To continue in effect the current certification requirements with respect to El Salvador 2              Nov 30                            unchallenged97th Congress, 2nd Session (1982)                              Regular Vetoes                          Bill No.              Subject              Veto Date              Presidential Message              StatusS.1503              Standby Petroleum Allocation Act of 1982              Mar 20              S.Doc. 97-25              The Senate *sustained*the veto on Mar 24 by vote No. 63 (58-36).H.R.5118              To provide water and settle water rights to the Papago Tribe of Arizona              Jun 1              H.Doc. 97-191              unchallengedH.R.5922              Supplemental Appropriations Act, Fiscal Year 1982              Jun 24              H.Doc. 97-204              The House *sustained*the veto on Jun 24 by vote No. 174 (253-151).H.R.6682              Supplemental Appropriations Act, Fiscal Year 1982              Jun 25              H.Doc. 97-205              The House *sustained*the veto on Jul 13 by vote No. 179 (242-169).H.R.6198              To amend the manufacturing clause of the Copyright Law              Jul 8              H.Doc. 97-208              Veto *overridden* by the House on Jul 13 by vote No. 178 (324-86).Veto *overridden* by the Senate on Jul 13 by vote No. 209 (84-9).Veto overriddenH.R.6863              Supplemental Appropriations Act, Fiscal Year 1982              Aug 28              H.Doc. 97-231              Veto *overridden* by the House on Sep 9 by vote No. 316 (301-117).Veto *overridden* by the Senate on Sep 10 by vote No. 300 (60-30).Veto overriddenH.R.1371              To amend section 12 of the Contract Disputes Act of 1978              Oct 15              H.Doc. 97-253              unchallengedS.2577              Environmental Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 1983              Oct 22              S.Doc. 97-37              unchallenged                              Pocket Vetoes                          Bill No.              Subject              Veto Date              Presidential Message              StatusS.2623              To amend the Tribally Controlled Community College Assistance Act of 1978              Jan 20, 1983              128 Cong. Rec. 33440              unchallengedH.R.9              Florida Wilderness Act              Jan 20, 1983              128 Cong. Rec. 33441              unchallengedH.R.3963              Violent Crime and Drug Enforcement Improvements Act              Jan 20, 1983              128 Cong. Rec. 33442              unchallengedH.R.5858              For the relief of Mocatta and Goldsmid, Limited, Sharps, Pixley, and Company, Limited, and Primary Metal and Mineral Corporation              Jan 20, 1983              128 Cong. Rec. 33440              unchallengedH.R.7336              Technical amendments to the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act of 1981              Jan 20, 1983              128 Cong. Rec. 33440              unchallenged97th Congress, 1st Session (1981)                              Regular Vetoes                          Bill No.              Subject              Veto Date              Presidential Message              StatusH.J.Res.357              Continuing Appropriations, Fiscal Year 1982              Nov 23              H.Doc. 97-115              unchallenged                              Pocket Vetoes                          Bill No.              Subject              Veto Date              Presidential Message              StatusH.R.4353              To amend the Federal Bankruptcies Act of 1978 1              ,               127 Cong. Rec. 31894              unchallenged 1. This veto was the subject of a court case brought by a private corporation which raised the constitutionality of a pocket veto between sessions of the 97th Congress. The case did not result in any reported decision (Fidelity Mortgage Investors, No. 75-B-154 (Bkrtcy. S.D.N.Y.) and Lifetime Communities Inc. v. Administrative Office of U.S. Courts, No. 81-Civ.-0544 (KTD)(S.D.N.Y.)).  2. This veto was the subject of Barnes v. Carmen (582 F. Supp. 163 (D.D.C. 1984)). The district court upheld the President's veto citing the Supreme Court's Pocket Veto Case. This ruling was overturned upon appeal in Barnes v. Kline (759 F.2d 21 (D.C. Cir. 1985)). Since Congress had appointed officials to receive messages, the court concluded that the use of the pocket veto was unconstitutional. Upon appeal, the Supreme Court ruled that the issue was moot since the provisions of H.R. 4042 had no effect after Sept. 30, 1984 (Burke v. Barnes, 479 U.S. 361 (1978)). The bill was neither signed, nor returned, nor promulgated into law. It is counted here as a pocket veto.  |
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Additional information about veto power and procedure can be found in the CRS reports, *Veto Override Procedure in the House and Senate* (PDF) and *Regular Vetoes and Pocket Vetoes: An Overview* (PDF).  

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