National Ocean Pollution Research and Development and Monitoring Planning Act of 1978
Public Law 95-273 · S. 1617 · 95th Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on May 8, 1978 · Environmental Protection
Sponsor: Sen. Warren Magnuson (D-WA)
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.
(Reported to House from the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries with amendment, H. Rept. 95-626 (Part II))
Ocean Pollution Research and Monitoring Program Act - Directs the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to prepare a comprehensive three-year plan relating to Federal ocean pollution research and monitoring, to be submitted to the Congress and the President within one year of the date of enactment. Sets forth the content of such plans.
Directs the Administrator to identify priorities for the Federal program relating to ocean pollution research and monitoring. Provides that the Administrator shall insure that results, findings, and information concerning Federal programs shall be disseminated in a timely manner and in useful forms, to interested parties. Authorizes the Administrator to provide financial assistance in the form of grants or contracts for certain research and monitoring projects. Provides that activities supported by such grants or contracts shall be administered through existing Federal programs, to the maximum extent possible.
Requires the Administrator to submit to the Congress and the President an annual report on the status of Federal ocean pollution research and monitoring.
States that nothing in this Act shall be construed to amend, restrict, or otherwise alter the authority of any Federal agency or department, under any law, to undertake research related to ocean pollution.
Authorizes the appropriation of $5,000,000 for fiscal year 1979 for the purposes of this 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. 17 actions.
- May 8, 1978Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 95-273.
- Apr 26, 1978PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Apr 25, 1978PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Apr 24, 1978Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amenddments.
- Feb 28, 1978FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
- Oct 17, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Sep 26, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
- Aug 5, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
- Aug 3, 1977FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
- Jul 26, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
- May 27, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Environment and Public Works 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.