An Act to extend the provisions of the Fishermen's Protective Act of 1967, relating to the reimbursement of seized commercial fishermen, until October 1, 1978.
Public Law 95-194 · S. 1184 · 95th Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Nov 18, 1977 · Commerce
Sponsor: Sen. Warren Magnuson (D-WA)
Cosponsors (1): Sen. Robert Packwood
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.
(Senate agreed to House amendments with an amendment)
Amends the Fisherman's Protective Act of 1967 to extend to October 1, 1978, the period during which reimbursement under the Act is available to commercial fishermen seized by foreign nations.
Establishes a loan program for U.S. fishermen whose vessels or gear are lost, damaged, or destroyed by foreign fishing activity.
Stipulates that such loans: (1) be for an amount not exceeding the value of the loss; (2) be conditional upon assignment to the Secretary of Commerce and right to recover such loss; and (3) bear interest at a rate not to exceed 3 1/2 percent per year.
Directs the Secretary to use the Fishermen's Protective Fund created under such Act in making loans under this Act.
Restricts eligibility to claims that have not been substantially resolved and which occurred after July 1, 1976.
Requires investigation by the Secretary of each incident of loss, damage, or destruction and cancellation of repayment of the loan if the owner or operator receiving the loan was not at fault.
Directs the Secretary to take action to collect on any right assigned under this Act.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
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. 14 actions.
- Nov 18, 1977Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 95-194.
- Nov 8, 1977PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Nov 4, 1977PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Nov 3, 1977Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendments with an amendment.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to Senate amendment.
- Oct 18, 1977FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, in lieu of H.R. 4140.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in House.
- May 24, 1977FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
- May 16, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Mar 30, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation 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.