A joint resolution assuring compensation for damages caused by nuclear incidents involving the nuclear reactor of a U.S. warship.
Public Law 93-513 · S.J.Res. 248 · 93rd Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Dec 6, 1974 · Armed Forces and National Security
Sponsor: Sen. John Pastore (D-RI)
Cosponsors: None
Passage votes
- HouseMethod not stated
- SenateMethod not stated
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.
Stipulates that it is the policy of the United States that it will pay claims or judgments for bodily injury, death, or damage or loss of real or personal property resulting from a nuclear incident involving a utilization facility in a United States nuclear powered warship; provided that the injury, death, or damage was not caused by the act of an armed force engaged in combat or as a result of civil insurrection. States that the President may authorize, under such terms and conditions as he may direct, the payment of such claims or judgments from any contingency funds available to the Government or may certify such claims or judgments to the Congress for appropriation of the necessary funds.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
- Joint Atomic Energy Committee · Joint · referred to, reported by
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. 8 actions.
- Dec 6, 1974Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 93-513.
- Nov 26, 1974PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Nov 25, 1974FloorFloor · Measure passed House in lieu of H.J. Res. 1161.
- Nov 21, 1974FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate.
- Oct 16, 1974CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Joint Atomic Energy Committee
- Oct 9, 1974CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Joint Atomic Energy Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
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.