Maritime Appropriation Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1979
Public Law 95-298 · S. 2553 · 95th Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Jun 26, 1978 · Transportation and Public Works
Sponsor: Sen. Howard Cannon (D-NV)
Cosponsors (1): Sen. James Pearson
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.
Maritime Appropriation Authorization Act - Authorizes appropriations in specified amounts to the Department of Commerce for fiscal year 1979 for: (1) vessel construction or reconditioning; (2) the payment of obligations incurred for the operating - differential subsidy; (3) research and development expenses; (4) operating expenses including reserve fleet expenses; (5) financial assistance to State marine schools; and (6) the Merchant Marine Academy.
Stipulates that a vessel must be offered for participation or be enrolled in a Sealift Readiness program before authorized funds may be paid for the operation or construction of such vessel.
Amends the Maritime Academy Act of 1958 by authorizing the Secretary of Commerce to pay additional amounts to assist in paying for the cost of fuel oil consumed during the training cruises of vessels.
Amends the Merchant Marine Act of 1936 to increase the amount of the aggregate unpaid principal of guaranteed obligations which may be outstanding at any one time.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee · House · discharged from, referred to
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. 13 actions.
- Jun 26, 1978Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 95-298.
- Jun 14, 1978PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- Jun 13, 1978PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Jun 12, 1978Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendment.
- May 23, 1978FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, in lieu of H.R. 10729.
- CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Apr 25, 1978CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Apr 24, 1978FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- Apr 19, 1978CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Feb 21, 1978CommitteeCommittee · 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.