InsideGov
Congress · Laws

Defense Production Act Extension and Amendments of 1991

Public Law 102-99 · H.R. 991 · 102nd Congress · began in the House

Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Aug 17, 1991 · Armed Forces and National Security

Sponsor: Rep. Thomas Carper (D-DE)

Cosponsors (9): Rep. Thomas Ridge,

Passage votes

  • HouseUnanimous consent
  • 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.

Report a correction

Summary

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

Defense Production Act Extension and Amendments of 1991 - Amends the Defense Production Act of 1950 to extend its expiration date to September 30, 1991. Authorizes appropriations and sets spending limits under such Act through FY 1991.

Repeals provisions of such Act granting immunity from civil and criminal suits and a defense to antitrust actions for persons engaging in voluntary agreements for defense preparedness programs and expansion of production capacity and supply.

Authorizes the President, with respect to certain Defense Production Act activities, to exempt persons participating in a voluntary agreement or plan of action on behalf of the United States from Federal antitrust laws or any similar State law for activities engaged in as part of such agreement or plan. Requires an individual designated by the President to administer such an agreement or plan to provide prior written notice of the time, place, and nature of any meeting to carry out such agreement or plan to the Attorney General, the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, and the Congress. Outlines requirements for, and limitations to, the antitrust defense for participants in such agreements or plans. Exempts any activity or provision of such agreements or plans from the Federal Advisory Committee Act and other Federal law relating to advisory committees.

Authorizes the President to order a priority in the allocation of materials, facilities, and services (currently, only materials and facilities) when requirements of national defense cannot otherwise be met. Requires the President to reach certain determinations concerning the critical shortages of such materials, facilities, and services before exercising such authority.

Makes this Act effective (retroactively) on October 20, 1990.

Makes permanent (currently expires upon termination of the Act) a provision of the Defense Production Act of 1950 authorizing the President to review, and if necessary, prohibit foreign mergers, acquisitions, or takeovers in the United States if such actions might adversely affect national security interests.

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.

Report a correction

Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 38 actions.

  1. Aug 17, 1991Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 102-99.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Aug 7, 1991PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Aug 2, 1991Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report by Voice Vote.
  5. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report by Voice Vote.
  6. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference papers: message on House action held at the desk in Senate.
  7. Resolving differencesResolving differences · On agreeing to the conference report Agreed to without objection.
  8. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motions to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  9. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: On agreeing to the conference report Agreed to without objection.
  10. Resolving differencesResolving differences · The previous question was ordered without objection.
  11. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference papers: Senate report and managers' statement held at the desk in Senate.
  12. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Carper asked unanimous consent for consideration of the conference report, H. Rept. 102-186.
  13. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report H. Rept. 102-186 filed.
  14. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report H. Rept. 102-186 filed.
  15. Jun 6, 1991Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to request for conference. Appointed conferees. Riegle; Sarbanes; Dixon; Garn; D'Amato.
  16. FloorFloor · Senate insists on its amendments by Voice Vote.
  17. Mar 21, 1991Resolving differencesResolving differences · The chair appointed conferees from the Committee on Ways and Means for consideration of secs. 202-204 of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Rostenkowski, Gibbons, Jenkins, Archer, and Crane.
  18. Resolving differencesResolving differences · The chair appointed conferees from the Committee on the Judiciary for consideration of sec. 5 of the House bill, sec. 104 of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Brooks, Edwards (CA), and Fish.
  19. Resolving differencesResolving differences · The chair appointed conferees from the Committee on Energy and Commerce for consideration of sec. 8 of the House bill, and secs. 203-206 of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Dingell, Markey, Collins (IL), Lent, and Rinaldo.
  20. Resolving differencesResolving differences · The chair appointed conferees from the Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs, for consideration of Title II of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Gonzalez, Annunzio, Neal (NC), Oakar, Schumer, Carper, Wylie, Leach, McCollum, and Roukema.
  21. Resolving differencesResolving differences · The chair appointed conferees from the Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs for consideration of the House bill, and Title I of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Gonzalez, LaFalce, Oakar, Vento, Carper, Wylie, Ridge, and Paxon.
  22. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  23. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Carper asked unanimous consent that the House disagree to the Senate amendment, and request a conference.
  24. Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House disagree to the Senate amendment, and request a conference Agreed to without objection.
  25. FloorFloor · Message on House action received in Senate and held at desk: House requests a conference.
  26. Mar 7, 1991FloorFloor · Passed Senate in lieu of S. 468 with an amendment by Voice Vote.
  27. FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
  28. Mar 6, 1991FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  29. FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays (2/3 required): 416 - 0 (Roll No. 29).House roll call 29
  30. FloorFloor · Mr. Carper moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
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.

Report a correction

Official record

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