An Act to amend section 142 of title 13, United States Code, to change the date for taking censuses of agriculture, irrigation, and drainage, and for other purposes.
Public Law 94-229 · H.R. 7824 · 94th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Mar 15, 1976 · Agriculture and Food
Sponsor: Rep. Patricia Schroeder (D-CO-1)
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.
Directs the Secretary of Commerce to take a census of agriculture in 1979, in 1983, and in every fifth year beginning after 1983.
Requires, in conjunction with such census, that in 1979, 1988, and every tenth year beginning after 1988, the Secretary shall take a census of irrigation and drainage.
Requires the statistical classification of farms in effect on January 1, 1975, with respect to such censuses, to be effective through June 30, 1976, and any statistical report issued on or before June 30, 1976, with respect to any such census, to reflect such classification, permitting additional classifications as deemed appropriate by the Secretary.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Post Office and Civil Service Committee · House · referred to, reported by
Post Office and Civil Service Committee · Senate · referred to
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. 13 actions.
- Mar 15, 1976Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 94-229.
- Mar 3, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- Mar 2, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Mar 1, 1976FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
- Feb 18, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Post Office and Civil Service Committee
- Feb 17, 1976FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
- Feb 11, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Post Office and Civil Service Committee
- Jun 11, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Post Office and Civil Service 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.