Congress · Laws

A bill to amend the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921, as amended, and for other purposes.

Public Law 94-410 · H.R. 8410 · 94th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Sep 13, 1976 · Agriculture and Food

Sponsor: Rep. Charles Thone (R-NE-1)

Cosponsors (1): Rep. Robert Bergland

Passage votesYeaNay

HouseRecorded vote: 352 yea, 3 nay352–3
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.

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Summary

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

Extends the prohibition on unfair, unjustly discriminatory or deceptive practices by meat packers and stockyard owners, market agencies, or dealers, under the Packers and Stockyards Act, to all transactions of persons subject to the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Agriculture (and not merely those transactions which occur in commerce, as is presently the case).

Exempts from the definition of "packers" under such Act general wholesale food brokers, dealers, or distributors where the Secretary determines that their inclusion is not necessary for the purposes of this Act.

Empowers the Secretary, after notice and hearing, to issue an order requiring an insolvent packer to cease and desist entirely from purchasing livestock, or to cease and desist from purchasing livestock except under such conditions as the Secretary may prescribe to effectuate the purposes of the Act.

Provides that in the event any person subject to the Act does not have the required bond, or has failed, or is unable, to pay for livestock or meats, has operated while insolvent or otherwise in violation of such Act, the Secretary may request the Attorney General to seek from a U.S. district court a temporary injunction or order restraining such person from operating subject to the Act.

Allows civil actions against packers by persons injured by a packer's violation of this Act relating to the purchase, sale, or handling of livestock.

Requires each packer market agency, or dealer purchasing livestock before the close of the next business day following the purchase of livestock and transfer of possession thereof to wire transfer funds to the seller's account or to deliver to the seller or his duly authorized representative, at the point of transfer of possession of the livestock, a check for the full amount of the purchase price, provided that in the seller's absence placement of a check in the mail for the full amount and within such time period shall be deemed compliance.

Requires that all livestock purchased by a packer, whose average annual purchases exceed $500,000 in cash sales, and all inventories of, or receivables or proceeds from, meat, meat food products, or livestock products derived therefrom be held by such packer in trust for the benefit of all unpaid cash sellers of such livestock until full payment has been received by such unpaid sellers.

Who voted for it

Every House member of the 94th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 356 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.

356 yea3 nay72 present or did not vote

Dimension 2

Economic left–right

More liberalMore conservative

Democrats who voted yea(233)

Rep. John ConyersD-MI-1
Rep. Louis StokesD-OH-21
Rep. Pete StarkD-CA-9
Rep. John MossD-CA-3
Rep. Parren MitchellD-MD-7
Rep. James CormanD-CA-21
Rep. Ronald DellumsD-CA-8
Rep. Edward RoybalD-CA-25
Rep. Phillip BurtonD-CA-6
Rep. Yvonne BurkeD-CA-28
Rep. Elizabeth HoltzmanD-NY-16
Rep. Henry WaxmanD-CA-24
Rep. Benjamin RosenthalD-NY-8
Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-19
Rep. Ralph MetcalfeD-IL-1
Rep. Frank ThompsonD-NJ-4
Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8
Rep. Barbara JordanD-TX-18
Rep. Robert NixD-PA-2
Rep. William FordD-MI-15
Rep. Frederick RichmondD-NY-14
Rep. Henry GonzálezD-TX-20
Rep. Harold JohnsonD-CA-1
Rep. Charles CarneyD-OH-19
Rep. James HowardD-NJ-3
Rep. John SeiberlingD-OH-14
Rep. Jonathan BinghamD-NY-22
Rep. John DingellD-MI-16
Rep. John BurtonD-CA-5
Rep. John BrademasD-IN-3
Rep. Patsy MinkD-HI-2
Rep. John McFallD-CA-14
Rep. Tip O’NeillD-MA-8
Rep. Charles PriceD-IL-23
Rep. Edward KochD-NY-18
Rep. Richard BollingD-MO-5
Rep. Joshua EilbergD-PA-4
Rep. Robert LeggettD-CA-4
Rep. Norman MinetaD-CA-13
Rep. Peter RodinoD-NJ-10
Rep. Stephen SolarzD-NY-13
Rep. George MillerD-CA-7
Rep. Lloyd MeedsD-WA-2
Rep. John FaryD-IL-5
Rep. Sidney YatesD-IL-9
Rep. Ray MaddenD-IN-1
Rep. Helen MeynerD-NJ-13
Rep. Edward MezvinskyD-IA-1
Rep. William BrodheadD-MI-17
Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7
Rep. Michael HarringtonD-MA-6
Rep. Thomas MorganD-PA-22
Rep. Frank AnnunzioD-IL-11
Rep. John MurphyD-NY-17
Rep. Richard NolanD-MN-6
Rep. Dominick DanielsD-NJ-14
Rep. Spark MatsunagaD-HI-1
Rep. Fernand St. GermainD-RI-1
Rep. Floyd HicksD-WA-6
Rep. James BurkeD-MA-11
Rep. Robert DrinanD-MA-4
Rep. Daniel RostenkowskiD-IL-8
Rep. William BurlisonD-MO-10
Rep. Edward PattenD-NJ-15
Rep. Morgan MurphyD-IL-2
Rep. Abner MikvaD-IL-10
Rep. George DanielsonD-CA-30
Rep. James O’HaraD-MI-12
Rep. Edward BeardD-RI-2
Rep. James WeaverD-OR-4
Rep. Claude PepperD-FL-14
Rep. Teno RoncalioD-WY
Rep. Dante FascellD-FL-15
Rep. Charles WilsonD-CA-31
Rep. Daniel FloodD-PA-11
Rep. John DentD-PA-21
Rep. Robert BerglandD-MN-7
Rep. Lucien NedziD-MI-14
Rep. William MoorheadD-PA-14
Rep. Jerry PattersonD-CA-38
Rep. Paul SarbanesD-MD-3
Rep. Joseph VigoritoD-PA-24
Rep. John MoakleyD-MA-9
Rep. Paul TsongasD-MA-5
Rep. Richard OttingerD-NY-24
Rep. Joseph GaydosD-PA-20
Rep. Lionel Van DeerlinD-CA-42
Rep. Philip HayesD-IN-8
Rep. Jack BrooksD-TX-9
Rep. James HanleyD-NY-32
Rep. Mario BiaggiD-NY-10
Rep. Harley StaggersD-WV-2
Rep. Clement ZablockiD-WI-4
Rep. Charles VanikD-OH-22
Rep. James DelaneyD-NY-9
Rep. Tim HallD-IL-15
Rep. Robert MollohanD-WV-1
Rep. Carl PerkinsD-KY-7
Rep. William HungateD-MO-9
Rep. Brock AdamsD-WA-7
Rep. William CotterD-CT-1
Rep. Gerry StuddsD-MA-12
Rep. Herbert HarrisD-VA-8
Rep. Richard Vander VeenD-MI-5
Rep. Leslie AspinD-WI-1
Rep. Paul SimonD-IL-24
Rep. Toby MoffettD-CT-6
Rep. Neal SmithD-IA-4
Rep. Frederick RooneyD-PA-15
Rep. Leonor SullivanD-MO-3
Rep. Matthew McHughD-NY-27
Rep. Albert UllmanD-OR-2
Rep. Thomas FoleyD-WA-5
Rep. Glenn AndersonD-CA-32
Rep. Robert RoeD-NJ-8
Rep. Joseph MinishD-NJ-11
Rep. Leo RyanD-CA-11
Rep. James SymingtonD-MO-2
Rep. John MelcherD-MT-2
Rep. Robert CornellD-WI-8
Rep. Gene MaguireD-NJ-7
Rep. James FlorioD-NJ-1
Rep. Edward BolandD-MA-2
Rep. Edward PattisonD-NY-29
Rep. James BlanchardD-MI-18
Rep. Gillis LongD-LA-8
Rep. Mike McCormackD-WA-4
Rep. Alvin BaldusD-WI-3
Rep. Gladys SpellmanD-MD-5
Rep. Don BonkerD-WA-3
Rep. James LloydD-CA-35
Rep. Max BaucusD-MT-1
Rep. George ShipleyD-IL-22
Rep. Henry NowakD-NY-37
Rep. Stanley LundineD-NY-39
Rep. Joseph FisherD-VA-10
Rep. Robert EdgarD-PA-7
Rep. Michael BlouinD-IA-2
Rep. Thomas DowneyD-NY-2
Rep. Allan HoweD-UT-2
Rep. Mark HannafordD-CA-34
Rep. Koln McKayD-UT-1
Rep. Clifford AllenD-TN-5
Rep. John JenretteD-SC-6
Rep. Otis PikeD-NY-1
Rep. Lester WolffD-NY-6
Rep. John KrebsD-CA-17
Rep. Joseph EarlyD-MA-3
Rep. Timothy WirthD-CO-2
Rep. Robert GiaimoD-CT-3
Rep. John MurthaD-PA-12
Rep. Thomas SteedD-OK-4
Rep. Mendel DavisD-SC-1
Rep. Christopher DoddD-CT-2
Rep. Jerome TraxlerD-MI-8
Rep. Martha KeysD-KS-2
Rep. Charles RoseD-NC-7
Rep. Lindy BoggsD-LA-2
Rep. William NatcherD-KY-2
Rep. Robert DuncanD-OR-3
Rep. Gus YatronD-PA-6
Rep. Jerome AmbroD-NY-3
Rep. John YoungD-TX-14
Rep. Wilbur MillsD-AR-2
Rep. Ed JonesD-TN-7
Rep. Samuel StrattonD-NY-28
Rep. John BreckinridgeD-KY-6
Rep. Bob CarrD-MI-6
Rep. Thomas AshleyD-OH-9
Rep. Clarence LongD-MD-2
Rep. Charles WilsonD-TX-2
Rep. Norman D’AmoursD-NH-1
Rep. Tom HarkinD-IA-5
Rep. Kenneth HollandD-SC-5
Rep. Martin RussoD-IL-3
Rep. Jake PickleD-TX-10
Rep. Berkley BedellD-IA-6
Rep. William RandallD-MO-4
Rep. Abraham KazenD-TX-23
Rep. Romano MazzoliD-KY-3
Rep. Les AuCoinD-OR-1
Rep. John RoushD-IN-4
Rep. Bo GinnD-GA-1
Rep. Patricia SchroederD-CO-1
Rep. Tom BevillD-AL-4
Rep. Marilyn LloydD-TN-3
Rep. Carroll HubbardD-KY-1
Rep. Philip SharpD-IN-10
Rep. Richard WhiteD-TX-16
Rep. William HughesD-NJ-2
Rep. Robert StephensD-GA-10
Rep. Sam GibbonsD-FL-7
Rep. Lee HamiltonD-IN-9
Rep. Walter JonesD-NC-1
Rep. David HendersonD-NC-3
Rep. George MahonD-TX-19
Rep. Walter FlowersD-AL-7
Rep. Ike AndrewsD-NC-4
Rep. Paul RogersD-FL-11
Rep. Robert KruegerD-TX-21
Rep. Jack HightowerD-TX-13
Rep. James JonesD-OK-1
Rep. John BreauxD-LA-7
Rep. Herbert RobertsD-TX-4
Rep. Kenneth HechlerD-WV-4
Rep. David BowenD-MS-2
Rep. David EvansD-IN-6
Rep. Robert SikesD-FL-1
Rep. Jamie WhittenD-MS-1
Rep. Roy TaylorD-NC-11
Rep. Ronald MottlD-OH-23
Rep. Elliott LevitasD-GA-4
Rep. William NicholsD-AL-3
Rep. Lawrence FountainD-NC-2
Rep. James HaleyD-FL-8
Rep. Glenn EnglishD-OK-6
Rep. Jack BrinkleyD-GA-3
Rep. Andrew JacobsD-IN-11
Rep. Phillip LandrumD-GA-9
Rep. Charles BennettD-FL-3
Rep. Thomas DowningD-VA-1
Rep. James MannD-SC-4
Rep. Dale MilfordD-TX-24
Rep. Goodloe ByronD-MD-6
Rep. John FlyntD-GA-6
Rep. Sam HallD-TX-1
Rep. Joseph WaggonnerD-LA-4
Rep. William PoageD-TX-11
Rep. Harold RunnelsD-NM-2
Rep. Sonny MontgomeryD-MS-3
Rep. Omar BurlesonD-TX-17
Rep. Dan DanielD-VA-5
Rep. David SatterfieldD-VA-3

Republicans who voted yea(123)

Rep. Charles WhalenR-OH-3
Rep. Gilbert GudeR-MD-8
Rep. Matthew RinaldoR-NJ-12
Rep. Silvio ConteR-MA-1
Rep. Edward BiesterR-PA-8
Rep. Frank HortonR-NY-34
Rep. Benjamin GilmanR-NY-26
Rep. Margaret HecklerR-MA-10
Rep. Joseph McDadeR-PA-10
Rep. William WalshR-NY-33
Rep. Larry PresslerR-SD-1
Rep. Mark AndrewsR-ND
Rep. Stewart McKinneyR-CT-4
Rep. Tim CarterR-KY-5
Rep. Donald MitchellR-NY-31
Rep. Thomas RailsbackR-IL-19
Rep. William CohenR-ME-2
Rep. Jim JeffordsR-VT
Rep. Ronald SarasinR-CT-5
Rep. David EmeryR-ME-1
Rep. Hamilton FishR-NY-25
Rep. Joel PritchardR-WA-1
Rep. Millicent FenwickR-NJ-5
Rep. William HarshaR-OH-6
Rep. Elwood HillisR-IN-5
Rep. John StantonR-OH-11
Rep. Charles MosherR-OH-13
Rep. Norman LentR-NY-4
Rep. Edward MadiganR-IL-21
Rep. James ClevelandR-NH-2
Rep. William WamplerR-VA-9
Rep. John AndersonR-IL-16
Rep. Thad CochranR-MS-4
Rep. John BuchananR-AL-6
Rep. Pierre du PontR-DE
Rep. Tennyson GuyerR-OH-4
Rep. Albert JohnsonR-PA-23
Rep. Garner ShriverR-KS-4
Rep. Donald ClausenR-CA-2
Rep. John HammerschmidtR-AR-3
Rep. George O’BrienR-IL-17
Rep. Trent LottR-MS-5
Rep. Herbert BurkeR-FL-12
Rep. John DuncanR-TN-2
Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16
Rep. John JarmanD-OK-5
Rep. Robert CoughlinR-PA-13
Rep. Philip RuppeR-MI-11
Rep. James AbdnorR-SD-2
Rep. Joe SkubitzR-KS-5
Rep. Bob WilsonR-CA-41
Rep. Edward DerwinskiR-IL-4
Rep. Larry WinnR-KS-3
Rep. Charles ThoneR-NE-1
Rep. Burt TalcottR-CA-16
Rep. Paul FindleyR-IL-20
Rep. Albert QuieR-MN-1
Rep. John MyersR-IN-7
Rep. Shirley PettisR-CA-37
Rep. Floyd SpenceR-SC-2
Rep. James QuillenR-TN-1
Rep. Clair BurgenerR-CA-43
Rep. George WhitehurstR-VA-2
Rep. Skip BafalisR-FL-10
Rep. William MooreR-LA-6
Rep. Elford CederbergR-MI-10
Rep. Marion SnyderR-KY-4
Rep. Robert McCloryR-IL-13
Rep. Robert DanielR-VA-4
Rep. Virginia SmithR-NE-3
Rep. Guy Vander JagtR-MI-9
Rep. John RhodesR-AZ-1
Rep. Manuel LujánR-NM-1
Rep. Henry HydeR-IL-6
Rep. Jim JohnsonR-CO-4
Rep. Chuck GrassleyR-IA-3
Rep. Robert LagomarsinoR-CA-19
Rep. Robert McEwenR-NY-30
Rep. Robert KastenR-WI-9
Rep. William SteigerR-WI-6
Rep. James BroyhillR-NC-10
Rep. Manley ButlerR-VA-6
Rep. Thomas HagedornR-MN-2
Rep. Edwin ForsytheR-NJ-6
Rep. James RobinsonR-VA-7
Rep. Gene TaylorR-MO-7
Rep. Richard SchulzeR-PA-5
Rep. Jack KempR-NY-38
Rep. John McCollisterR-NE-2
Rep. W. Bill YoungR-FL-6
Rep. Barry GoldwaterR-CA-20
Rep. William KetchumR-CA-18
Rep. David TreenR-LA-3
Rep. William FrenzelR-MN-3
Rep. Robin BeardR-TN-6
Rep. William GoodlingR-PA-19
Rep. Delbert LattaR-OH-5
Rep. Clarence BrownR-OH-7
Rep. John ErlenbornR-IL-14
Rep. Willis GradisonR-OH-1
Rep. Marjorie HoltR-MD-4
Rep. James MartinR-NC-9
Rep. Carlos MoorheadR-CA-22
Rep. Charles WigginsR-CA-39
Rep. Donald ClancyR-OH-2
Rep. Thomas KindnessR-OH-8
Rep. Barber ConableR-NY-35
Rep. Richard KellyR-FL-5
Rep. Edward HutchinsonR-MI-4
Rep. Robert MichelR-IL-18
Rep. William ArmstrongR-CO-5
Rep. Clarence MillerR-OH-10
Rep. Bill ArcherR-TX-7
Rep. Samuel DevineR-OH-12
Rep. Delwin ClawsonR-CA-33
Rep. Bud ShusterR-PA-9
Rep. Robert BaumanR-MD-1
Rep. Herman SchneebeliR-PA-17
Rep. John RousselotR-CA-26
Rep. George HansenR-ID-2
Rep. James CollinsR-TX-3
Rep. Steven SymmsR-ID-1
Rep. Phil CraneR-IL-12

Data notes

The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 1125 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.

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Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Agriculture Committee · House · referred to, reported by
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee · Senate · 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.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 23 actions.

Sep 13, 1976Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
PresidentPresident · Public law 94-410.
Sep 1, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
Aug 31, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
Aug 30, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to conference report, roll call #676 (352-3).House roll call 676
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report, roll call #676 (352-3).House roll call 676
Aug 4, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in Senate, S. Rept. 94-1065.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in Senate, S. Rept. 94-1065.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 94-1391.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 94-1391.
Jul 26, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
Jul 22, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
Jun 17, 1976FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
Jun 4, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee
May 11, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee
May 6, 1976FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended.
Apr 14, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Agriculture Committee
Jul 8, 1975CommitteeCommittee · 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.

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Official record

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