A joint resolution to confer certain powers on the Presidential Commission appointed to investigate the Three Mile Island nuclear powerplant accident.
Public Law 96-12 · S.J.Res. 80 · 96th Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on May 23, 1979 · Energy
Sponsor: Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA)
Cosponsors (5): Sen. Strom Thurmond, Sen. Birch Bayh,
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.
Confers subpoena power upon the Presidential Commission appointed to investigate the Three Mile Island nuclear powerplant accident to require the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of evidence relating to the accident.
Permits the issuance of an order for the inspection of the powerplant at Three Mile Island.
Committees
The record shows no committee referral for this bill.
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. 10 actions.
- May 23, 1979Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 96-12.
- May 22, 1979PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- May 21, 1979FloorFloor · Measure passed House.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in House.
- May 17, 1979FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
- 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.