Sea Grant Program Improvement Act of 1976
Public Law 94-461 · H.R. 13035 · 94th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Oct 8, 1976 · Education
Sponsor: Rep. Paul Rogers (D-FL-11)
Cosponsors (17): Rep. Leonor Sullivan, Rep. John Murphy,
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.
Sea Grant Program Improvement Act - Declares it to be the purpose of the Congress to extend and strengthen the national sea grant program through this Act.
Directs the Secretary of Commerce to maintain a national sea grant program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Authorizes the Secretary to make grants and enter into contracts to assist sea grant programs or projects up to 66 2/3 percent of the cost of such programs or projects.
Requires the Secretary to identify specific national needs and problems related to ocean and coastal resources.
Authorizes the Secretary to make grants up to 100 percent of the total cost of projects if such projects address such national needs or problems.
Authorizes the Secretary to designate, through such program, sea grant colleges, and regional consortia, which shall conduct research, education, training, and advisory services in any field relevant to ocean and coastal resources.
Directs the Secretary to support a sea grant fellowship program to provide educational and training assistance to undergraduates and graduates in fields related to ocean and coastal resources.
Establishes the independent committee to be known as the sea grant review panel, which shall advise the Director of the national sea grant program, the Administrator of NOAA and the Secretary on grants and contracts, and the sea grant fellowship program. Authorizes the Secretary to appoint the members of the committee.
Requires departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the Federal Government to cooperate with NOAA by providing personnel, services, and facilities to NOAA to assist in achieving the objectives of this Act.
Requires the Secretary to transmit to the Congress and the President a comprehensive annual report on the activities of the national sea grant program for the preceding fiscal year.
Authorizes appropriations for the implementation of the National Sea Grant Program.
Authorizes the Secretary to enter into grants and contracts with any sea grant college, institution of higher education, laboratory or institute within the United States to enhance the research and development capabilities of developing foreign nations and to promote the international exchange of information.
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. 20 actions.
- Oct 8, 1976Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 94-461.
- Sep 28, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Sep 27, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Sep 23, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report.
- Sep 17, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report.
- Sep 15, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 94-1556.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 94-1556.
- Jul 29, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
- Jun 29, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
- Jun 14, 1976FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended, in lieu of S. 3165.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
- May 3, 1976FloorFloor · Measure passed House, roll call #227 (326-34).House roll call 227
- FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
- Apr 27, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Apr 5, 1976CommitteeCommittee · 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.