An Act to provide emergency assistance to producers of wheat, feed grains, and upland cotton, and for other purposes.
Public Law 95-279 · H.R. 6782 · 95th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on May 15, 1978 · Agriculture and Food
Sponsor: Rep. John Krebs (D-CA-17)
Cosponsors (2): Rep. Bernice Sisk, Rep. John Jenrette
Passage votesYeaNay
- HouseRecorded vote: 212 yea, 182 nay212–182
- 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.
Emergency Agricultural Act - =Title I: Price Support for Producers of Wheat, Feed Grains, and Upland Cotton= - Amends the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 authorizing the Secretary of Agriculture to increase the established price for wheat, feed grains, and upland cotton to compensate producers for participation in a set-aside for one or more of the 1978 through 1981 crops of such commodities. Permits the Secretary, if the target price is increased for any commodity a set-aside is in effect, to increase the established price for any other commodity. Requires the Secretary to adjust any increase in the target price to reflect any land diversion payments for the crop for which an increase is determined.
Authorizes the Secretary, upon presentation of warehouse receipts reflecting accrued storage charges of not more than 60 days, to make available for the 1978 through 1981 crops of upland cotton nonrecourse loans to cooperators. Provides that the loan rate be determined by a computation of 85 percent of the United States spot market averages, using three out of the last five years, dropping the highest and lowest years. States that the Northern European price quotation would be determined by a computation of a 90 percent measurement of a 15 week period, July 1 through October 15 (rather than a two week period, October 1 through October 15). Makes the domestic spot market computation the loan level when it is smaller than the Northern European computation. Gives the Secretary the option of adjusting the loan rate upward if the Northern European computation is the lower of the two, not to exceed the domestic spot computation. Stipulates that the loan rate in no event be less than 48 cents per pound for each of the 1978 through 1981 crops.
Provides that the increase in the loan level for upland cotton and the authority to increase target prices become effective October 1, 1978. Permits any producer who receives loans and payments prior to October 1, 1978, on the 1978 crop of the commodity, to receive loans and payments as computed by this Act after September 30, 1978.
=Title II: Agricultural Commodities Utilization Program= - Authorizes the Secretary to permit all or any part of the acreage set aside or diverted from the production of a commodity for any crop year to be devoted to the production of any commodity (other than the one for which acreage is being set aside or diverted) for conversion into industrial hydrocarbons or other fossil fuels for use as motor or industrial fuel. Stipulates that the Secretary must have determined that such production is desirable in order to provide an adequate supply of commodities for such purpose, is not likely to increase the cost of price support programs, and will not adversely affect farm income. Authorizes the Secretary to formulate and carry out a production set-aside program to provide incentive payments for the production of such commodities for years in which no acreage set-aside or land diversion program is in effect for such commodities.
Provides that such payments shall be at rates which the Secretary determines to be fair and reasonable, taking into consideration the participation necessary to ensure an adequate supply of such agricultural commodities.
Authorizes the appropriation of such sums as may be necessary to carry out such program.
=Title III: Increases in the Borrowing Authority of the Commodity Credit Corporation= - Amends the Commodity Credit Corporation Act to increase the maximum amount of borrowed funds that may be outstanding from $14,500,000,000 to $25,000,000,000, and to increase the maximum amount of bonds, notes, debentures, and other similar obligations which the Commodity Credit Corporation may issue at any one time, from $14,500,000,000 to $25,000,000,000. Stipulates that such increases in borrowing authority shall be effective only to the extent provided in appropriation Acts.
=Title IV: Raisin Marketing Orders= - Permits, effective in fiscal year 1979, marketing orders under the Agricultural Adjustment Act, as reenacted and amended by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, to include provisions concerning marketing promotion, including paid advertisement, of raisins. Authorizes distribution among producers of the pro rata cost of such promotion.
Directs the Secretary to report to Congress on the implementation of this Act.
Who voted for it
Every House member of the 95th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 221 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.
221 yea190 nay23 present or did not vote
Democrats who voted yea(184)
- Rep. Edward RoybalD-CA-25
- Rep. Phillip BurtonD-CA-6
Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-19- Rep. Frederick RichmondD-NY-14
- Rep. Robert GarciaD-NY-21
- Rep. Richard BollingD-MO-5
- Rep. Shirley ChisholmD-NY-12
- Rep. Benjamin RosenthalD-NY-8
- Rep. Ronald DellumsD-CA-8
- Rep. Ralph MetcalfeD-IL-1
- Rep. Jonathan BinghamD-NY-22
- Rep. Frank ThompsonD-NJ-4
- Rep. Theodore WeissD-NY-20
- Rep. Lloyd MeedsD-WA-2
- Rep. George DanielsonD-CA-30
Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8- Rep. Henry GonzálezD-TX-20
- Rep. Daniel RostenkowskiD-IL-8
- Rep. William BurlisonD-MO-10
- Rep. Paul SimonD-IL-24
- Rep. William FordD-MI-15
Rep. Richard NolanD-MN-6- Rep. Robert KastenmeierD-WI-2
- Rep. Barbara JordanD-TX-18
- Rep. David BoniorD-MI-12
- Rep. Robert EckhardtD-TX-8
- Rep. John BrademasD-IN-3
- Rep. Stephen SolarzD-NY-13
- Rep. Edward PattenD-NJ-15
- Rep. Harold JohnsonD-CA-1
Rep. Daniel AkakaD-HI-2- Rep. James WrightD-TX-12
Rep. John DingellD-MI-16- Rep. William BrodheadD-MI-17
Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7- Rep. James ScheuerD-NY-11
- Rep. Donald FraserD-MN-5
- Rep. Ozzie MyersD-PA-1
- Rep. William MoorheadD-PA-14
- Rep. Bruce VentoD-MN-4
- Rep. Daniel FloodD-PA-11
- Rep. John FaryD-IL-5
- Rep. Joseph AddabboD-NY-7
- Rep. Charles CarneyD-OH-19
- Rep. John MurphyD-NY-17
- Rep. Albert UllmanD-OR-2
- Rep. Teno RoncalioD-WY
- Rep. Joshua EilbergD-PA-4
- Rep. Raymond LedererD-PA-3
- Rep. Alvin BaldusD-WI-3
- Rep. Harold FordD-TN-8
- Rep. Harley StaggersD-WV-2
- Rep. James BurkeD-MA-11
- Rep. Joseph LeFanteD-NJ-14
- Rep. Carl PerkinsD-KY-7
- Rep. Frederick RooneyD-PA-15
- Rep. Frank AnnunzioD-IL-11
- Rep. Richard OttingerD-NY-24
- Rep. Helen MeynerD-NJ-13
- Rep. Gene MaguireD-NJ-7
- Rep. Bill AlexanderD-AR-1
- Rep. Fernand St. GermainD-RI-1
- Rep. John BurtonD-CA-5
- Rep. Leslie AspinD-WI-1
- Rep. Morgan MurphyD-IL-2
- Rep. Lucien NedziD-MI-14
- Rep. John JenretteD-SC-6
Rep. John MurthaD-PA-12
Rep. Nick RahallD-WV-4- Rep. Don BonkerD-WA-3
- Rep. Edward BeardD-RI-2
- Rep. Thomas SteedD-OK-4
- Rep. John DentD-PA-21
- Rep. Jack BrooksD-TX-9
- Rep. Thomas DowneyD-NY-2
- Rep. Toby MoffettD-CT-6
- Rep. Charles RoseD-NC-7
- Rep. Gillis LongD-LA-8
- Rep. Lindy BoggsD-LA-2
- Rep. Neal SmithD-IA-4
Rep. Norm DicksD-WA-6- Rep. James DelaneyD-NY-9
- Rep. Thomas FoleyD-WA-5
- Rep. Ray ThorntonD-AR-4
- Rep. Mike McCormackD-WA-4
- Rep. Edward PattisonD-NY-29
- Rep. James BlanchardD-MI-18
- Rep. Stanley LundineD-NY-39
- Rep. Lunsford PreyerD-NC-6
- Rep. John SlackD-WV-3
- Rep. Robert MollohanD-WV-1
Rep. Dale KildeeD-MI-7- Rep. Robert CornellD-WI-8
- Rep. William NatcherD-KY-2
- Rep. Cecil HeftelD-HI-1
- Rep. Matthew McHughD-NY-27
- Rep. Donald PeaseD-OH-13
- Rep. Charles WilsonD-TX-2
- Rep. Robert RoeD-NJ-8
- Rep. Henry NowakD-NY-37
- Rep. Joseph GaydosD-PA-20
- Rep. Robert YoungD-MO-2
- Rep. Mario BiaggiD-NY-10
- Rep. James HanleyD-NY-32
- Rep. Koln McKayD-UT-1
- Rep. Michael BlouinD-IA-2
- Rep. Albert GoreD-TN-4
- Rep. Bob CarrD-MI-6
- Rep. Jerome TraxlerD-MI-8
- Rep. Kenneth HollandD-SC-5
- Rep. Leo ZeferettiD-NY-15
- Rep. Butler DerrickD-SC-3
- Rep. David CornwellD-IN-8
- Rep. Timothy WirthD-CO-2
- Rep. Dick GephardtD-MO-3
- Rep. Ed JonesD-TN-7
- Rep. Douglas ApplegateD-OH-18
- Rep. Berkley BedellD-IA-6
- Rep. James LloydD-CA-35
- Rep. John LaFalceD-NY-36
Rep. Max BaucusD-MT-1- Rep. Clifford AllenD-TN-5
- Rep. Lee HamiltonD-IN-9
- Rep. Bo GinnD-GA-1
- Rep. George MahonD-TX-19
- Rep. John BreckinridgeD-KY-6
- Rep. Walter JonesD-NC-1
- Rep. John CavanaughD-NE-2
- Rep. Ronnie FlippoD-AL-5
Rep. Tom HarkinD-IA-5- Rep. Tom BevillD-AL-4
- Rep. Jake PickleD-TX-10
Rep. Ike SkeltonD-MO-4- Rep. Mendel DavisD-SC-1
- Rep. Wyche FowlerD-GA-5
- Rep. Martha KeysD-KS-2
- Rep. Ed JenkinsD-GA-9
- Rep. Jerome AmbroD-NY-3
- Rep. Walter FlowersD-AL-7
- Rep. Don FuquaD-FL-2
- Rep. Jack HightowerD-TX-13
- Rep. James MattoxD-TX-5
- Rep. Jamie WhittenD-MS-1
- Rep. Abraham KazenD-TX-23
- Rep. Les AuCoinD-OR-1
- Rep. Philip SharpD-IN-10
- Rep. Gus YatronD-PA-6
- Rep. Harold VolkmerD-MO-9
- Rep. Ike AndrewsD-NC-4
- Rep. Bill HefnerD-NC-8
- Rep. Carroll HubbardD-KY-1
- Rep. Floyd FithianD-IN-2
- Rep. Robert SikesD-FL-1
- Rep. Billy EvansD-GA-8
- Rep. Vonno GudgerD-NC-11
- Rep. Robert KruegerD-TX-21
- Rep. Kika de la GarzaD-TX-15
- Rep. Allen ErtelD-PA-17
- Rep. Druie BarnardD-GA-10
- Rep. Richard WhiteD-TX-16
- Rep. David BowenD-MS-2
- Rep. James JonesD-OK-1
- Rep. Marilyn LloydD-TN-3
- Rep. Stephen NealD-NC-5
- Rep. Jack BrinkleyD-GA-3
- Rep. Elliott LevitasD-GA-4
- Rep. William ChappellD-FL-4
- Rep. Marvin MathisD-GA-2
- Rep. William NicholsD-AL-3
- Rep. Daniel GlickmanD-KS-4
- Rep. John BreauxD-LA-7
- Rep. Wes WatkinsD-OK-3
- Rep. Thomas HuckabyD-LA-5
- Rep. Lawrence FountainD-NC-2
- Rep. Robert GammageD-TX-22
- Rep. David EvansD-IN-6
- Rep. Glenn EnglishD-OK-6
- Rep. William PoageD-TX-11
- Rep. Sam HallD-TX-1
- Rep. Joseph WaggonnerD-LA-4
- Rep. John FlyntD-GA-6
- Rep. Sonny MontgomeryD-MS-3
- Rep. Richard IchordD-MO-8
- Rep. Omar BurlesonD-TX-17
Republicans who voted yea(37)
- Rep. Tim CarterR-KY-5
- Rep. Donald MitchellR-NY-31
- Rep. Joe SkubitzR-KS-5
- Rep. Mark AndrewsR-ND
- Rep. Jim JeffordsR-VT
- Rep. Larry PresslerR-SD-1
- Rep. Albert QuieR-MN-1
- Rep. Carl PursellR-MI-2
- Rep. Elwood HillisR-IN-5
- Rep. William HarshaR-OH-6
Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16- Rep. Jim LeachR-IA-1
- Rep. Charles ThoneR-NE-1
- Rep. Ronald MarleneeR-MT-2
- Rep. William MooreR-LA-6
- Rep. Tennyson GuyerR-OH-4
- Rep. Virginia SmithR-NE-3
- Rep. Earl ColemanR-MO-6
- Rep. Floyd SpenceR-SC-2
- Rep. Manuel LujánR-NM-1
- Rep. James AbdnorR-SD-2
Rep. Trent LottR-MS-5- Rep. Robin BeardR-TN-6
- Rep. John MyersR-IN-7
- Rep. Robert KastenR-WI-9
- Rep. William DickinsonR-AL-2
- Rep. James BroyhillR-NC-10
- Rep. Arlan StangelandR-MN-7
- Rep. David TreenR-LA-3
- Rep. Robert DanielR-VA-4
- Rep. James RobinsonR-VA-7
- Rep. Garry BrownR-MI-3
Rep. Chuck GrassleyR-IA-3- Rep. Mickey EdwardsR-OK-5
- Rep. Delbert LattaR-OH-5
- Rep. Clarence MillerR-OH-10
- Rep. Dan QuayleR-IN-4
Data notes
The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 945 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.
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. 33 actions.
- May 15, 1978Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 95-279.
- May 5, 1978PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- May 4, 1978PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to conference report, roll call #283 (212-182).House roll call 283
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report, roll call #283 (212-182).House roll call 283
- May 2, 1978Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report (Second).
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report (Second).
- May 1, 1978Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 95-1103.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 95-1103.
- Apr 25, 1978Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate (Second).
- Apr 24, 1978Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House (Second).
- Apr 12, 1978Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report failed of passage in House, roll call #214 (150-268).House roll call 214
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report disagreed to in House: Conference report failed of passage in House, roll call #214 (150-268).House roll call 214
- Apr 10, 1978Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report, roll call #85 (49-41).Senate roll call 85
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report, roll call #85 (49-41).Senate roll call 85
- Apr 6, 1978Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 95-1044.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 95-1044.
- Mar 22, 1978Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to instruct House conferees tabled, roll call #182 (224-167).House roll call 182
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House, roll call #181 (332-63).House roll call 181
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
- Mar 21, 1978FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended (Similar provisions to S. 2481), roll call #72 (67-26).Senate roll call 72
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
- Mar 17, 1978CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Appropriations Committee
- Mar 14, 1978CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Appropriations Committee
- Mar 13, 1978CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee
- Nov 1, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee
- Oct 31, 1977FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #716 (396-7).House roll call 716
- FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in 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.