An act to amend the provisions of chapters 83 and 89 of title 5, United States Code, which relate to survivor benefits for certain dependent children, and for other purposes.
Public Law 96-179 · H.R. 2584 · 96th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Jan 2, 1980 · Government Operations and Politics
Sponsor: Rep. Gladys Spellman (D-MD-5)
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.
States that a child must either be living with or receiving support contributions from a Federal employee or Member of Congress: (1) at the time of such employee's or Member's death in order to quality for civil service survivor benefits; and (2) in order to qualify as a member of the family of an employee or annuitant under Federal employee health benefit plans. Retains the current requirement that a stepchild must be living with the employee or Member to qualify for survivor or health benefits.
Redefines the medically underserved areas in which a carrier of a Federal health benefits plan must pay the costs of covered medical services provided by any practitioner licensed by the State to perform such a service.
Terminates the annuity of a Federal annuitant who is elected as a Member of Congress, and entitles such Federal service by the Member to be credited toward retirement.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Post Office and Civil Service Committee · House · referred to, reported by
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. 14 actions.
- Jan 2, 1980Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 96-179.
- Dec 24, 1979PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- Dec 21, 1979PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Dec 20, 1979Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to Senate amendments.
- FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- Dec 14, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
- Oct 23, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
- Oct 22, 1979FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
- Oct 5, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Post Office and Civil Service Committee
- Mar 1, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Post Office and Civil Service 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.