An act to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 1980, 1981, and 1982 to carry out cooperative programs with the States for the conservation of anadromous fish, and for other purposes.
Public Law 96-118 · S. 838 · 96th Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Nov 16, 1979 · Environmental Protection
Sponsor: Sen. John Chafee (R-RI)
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.
(Senate agreed to House amendment with an amendment)
Amends the Anadromous Fish Conservation Act to remove the prohibition against Federal sharing of the cost of maintaining structures, devices, and other facilities constructed by States under a cooperative agreement for research and development in the conservation and enhancement of anadromous fishery resources.
Provides that title to land acquired under such Act shall be in cooperating States or other non-Federal interests, instead of in the United States. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 1980, 1981, and 1982 to carry out cooperative programs with the States for the conservation, development, and enhancement of anadromous fish. Stipulates that not more than $1,250,000 of the funds appropriated in any one fiscal year shall be obligated in any one State.
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to cooperate with States and other non-Federal interests in conducting studies of: (1) the size and distribution of the population of striped bass throughout its range; and (2) the factors responsible for the decline in the numbers of striped bass which are available to the public for recreational or commercial use. Directs the Secretary to make annual reports to Congress concerning the progress and findings of such studies.
Authorizes additional appropriations for fiscal years 1980, 1981, and 1982 to carry out such studies. Directs the Secretary to inform Congress if such studies should be continued after September 30, 1982.
Amends the Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 to make a technical correction.
Authorizes appropriations for preparing a plan for a fishery research laboratory in Washington, including the use of funds previously appropriated for the National Fishery Research Center in Washington. Specifies information to be included in such plan prior to being submitted to the appropriate congressional committees.
Designates the aquarium to be built in Baltimore, Maryland, as the National Aquarium in Baltimore.
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. 17 actions.
- Nov 16, 1979Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 96-118.
- Nov 7, 1979PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Nov 2, 1979Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to Senate amendment.
- Nov 1, 1979Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendment with an amendment.
- Jun 25, 1979FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, in lieu of H. R. 2035.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in House.
- Jun 18, 1979FloorFloor · Measure reconsidered and repassed Senate, amended.
- FloorFloor · Senate vitiated its action on passage of 6/13/79.
- Jun 13, 1979FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- May 15, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
- Mar 29, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · 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.