An act to authorize certain transactions involving the acquisition and disposal of strategic and critical materials for the National Defense Stockpile.
Public Law 96-175 · H.R. 595 · 96th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Dec 29, 1979 · Armed Forces and National Security
Sponsor: Rep. Robert Mollohan (D-WV-1)
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.
(House receded and concurred in Senate amendment with an amendment)
Strategic and Critical Materials Transaction Authorization Act of 1979 - Authorizes appropriations of $237,000,000 for the acquisition of strategic and critical materials for the National Defense Stockpile established under the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act. Requires review by the House and Senate Committees on Armed Services of the materials to be acquired in advance of their acquisition.
Authorizes the disposal from the Stockpile of: (1) 35,000 long tons of tin; and (2) 3,000,000 carats of industrial diamonds.
Stipulates that all transactions authorized by this Act shall be carried out under the provisions of the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act. Authorizes the President to contribute up to 5,000 long tons of tin to the Tin Buffer Stock under the Fifth International Tin Agreement. Provides that upon such Agreement's termination in 1981, all proceeds from such contribution shall be remitted to the National Defense Stockpile Transaction Fund established under the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act.
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. 21 actions.
- Dec 29, 1979Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 96-175.
- Dec 24, 1979PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Dec 20, 1979PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Dec 19, 1979Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendment.
- Dec 12, 1979Resolving differencesResolving differences · House receded and concurred in Senate amendment with an amendment.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reject certain provisions of conference report passed House, roll call #717 (272-122).House roll call 717
- OtherOther · Resolving differences -- House actions: Motion to reject certain provisions of conference report passed House, roll call #717 (272-122).House roll call 717
- Dec 4, 1979Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 96-680.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 96-680.
- Oct 19, 1979Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion that certain portions of the conference committee meeting be closed to the public passed House, roll call #585 (358-0).House roll call 585
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
- Oct 16, 1979Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
- FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- Oct 3, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Armed Services Committee
- Apr 4, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Armed Services Committee
- Apr 3, 1979FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #74 (371-16).House roll call 74
- Mar 20, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Armed Services Committee
- Jan 15, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Armed Services Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the 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.