A bill to expand the authority of the Canal Zone Government to settle claims not cognizable under the Tort Claims Act.
Public Law 93-610 · H.R. 15229 · 93rd Congress · began in the House
Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Jan 2, 1975 · Government Operations and Politics
Sponsor: Rep. Leonor Sullivan (D-MO-3)
Cosponsors (6): Rep. Robert Leggett, Rep. Frank Clark,
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.
Provides, under the Canal Zone Code, that the Governor, or his designee, may adjust and pay claims for injury to, or loss of, property or personal injury or death arising from the activities of the Canal Zone Government. States that any such award shall be payable out of any moneys appropriated for or made available to the Canal Zone Government and that the acceptance by the claimant shall constitute a complete release of his claim against the United States, except that the Governor may make an interim partial award for humanitarian or compassionate reasons in a sum not exceeding $1,000.
Provides that these provisions do not apply to specified claims cognizable under the Tort Claims Act.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee · House · 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. 10 actions.
- Jan 2, 1975Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 93-610.
- Dec 24, 1974PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Dec 18, 1974FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate.
- Dec 17, 1974CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Nov 20, 1974CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Nov 19, 1974FloorFloor · Measure passed House.
- Sep 11, 1974CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Jun 5, 1974CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Merchant Marine and Fisheries 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.