Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act Amendments of 1995
Public Law 104-48 · H.R. 1103 · 104th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Bill Clinton (D) on Nov 15, 1995 · Agriculture and Food
Sponsor: Rep. Richard Pombo (R-CA-11)
Cosponsors (29): Rep. John Doolittle, Rep. Mark Foley,
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.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act Amendments of 1995 - Amends the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act, 1930 to define "retailer" and "grocery wholesaler."
(Sec. 3) Eliminates annual license fees for retailers and grocery wholesaler-dealers over a three-year phase in period. Requires a one-time fee for new retailers and grocery wholesalers after such period.
(Sec. 4) Increases license fee ceilings. Authorizes: (1) license issuances for more than one year; and (2) administrative license fee adjustments. Repeals the current reserve funds cap.
(Sec. 5) Increases: (1) penalties for operating without a license; and (2) late renewal fees.
(Sec. 6) Revises provisions regarding the statutory trust on commodities and sale proceeds, including: (1) elimination of certain Department of Agriculture (Department) reporting requirements; and (2) creation of an additional method of licensee trust formation through ordinary billing practices.
(Sec. 7) Revises Department investigatory requirements.
(Sec. 8) Establishes filing and handling fees for reparation complaints.
(Sec. 9) Defines "collateral fees and expenses."
(Sec. 10) States that persons other than the first licensee shall not be liable for misbranded commodities unless they had knowledge of, or had the ability to correct, the violation.
(Sec. 11) Authorizes imposition of a civil monetary penalty in lieu of license suspension or revocation for violations of unfair conduct or employment provisions.
(Sec. 12) Authorizes an extension of the employment sanction for a person who is illegally working while under such a sanction.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Agriculture Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Risk Management and Specialty Crops 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. 18 actions.
- Nov 15, 1995Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 104-48.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Nov 9, 1995PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Nov 7, 1995FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
- CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee
- Jul 31, 1995CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee
- Jul 28, 1995FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On passage Passed without objection.
- FloorFloor · Considered by unanimous consent.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Pombo asked unanimous consent to consider.
- Jul 26, 1995CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Agriculture Committee
- Jun 28, 1995CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Agriculture Committee
- Jun 21, 1995CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Risk Management and Specialty Crops Subcommittee of the House Agriculture Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Risk Management and Specialty Crops Subcommittee of the House Agriculture Committee
- Mar 16, 1995CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Risk Management and Specialty Crops Subcommittee of the House Agriculture Committee
- Mar 10, 1995CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Risk Management and Specialty Crops Subcommittee of the House Agriculture Committee
- Mar 1, 1995CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Agriculture Committee
- 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.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.