An act to amend the Egg Research and Consumer Information Act and to establish an intergovernmental study group to analyze recent events in the silver cash and futures markets.
Public Law 96-276 · H.R. 6285 · 96th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Jun 17, 1980 · Agriculture and Food
Sponsor: Rep. Alvin Baldus (D-WI-3)
Cosponsors (4): Rep. Beryl Anthony, Rep. Ed Jones,
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.
Egg Research and Consumer Information Act Amendments of 1980 - Amends the Egg Research and Consumer Information Act to raise the maximum allowable number of members of the Egg Board from 18 to 20. Provides that two such voting members, and alternates therefor, be consumers or representatives of consumers, if approved by egg producers. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to make such consumer appointments from nominations submitted by eligible organizations. Authorizes the Secretary to make such consumer appointments as necessary to protect consumer interests if such nominees are not members of bona fide consumer organizations or do not represent consumers.
Raises the limit on the rate of assessment prescribed by the order of the Egg Board from five cents to seven and one-half cents per case of commercial eggs or the equivalent thereof for fiscal year 1981. Permits such rate to be increased by no more than three-quarters of a cent for each fiscal year thereafter, up to ten cents per case. Declares that the failure of egg producers to approve an amendment to any Egg Research and Promotion Order shall not be deemed to invalidate such order.
Sets a minimum civil penalty of $500 for violations of this Act. Raises the maximum civil penalty for such violations from $1,000 to $5,000. Authorizes the Secretary to issue cease and desist orders against such violations, in addition to or in lieu of such civil penalties. Requires notice and opportunity for a hearing before such penalties may be assessed or such orders issued. Permits appeals of such penalties or orders in the appropriate U.S. court of appeals. Provides for civil penalties for failure to obey cease and desist orders which have become final and unappealable. Directs the Secretary to refer unpaid civil penalties to the Attorney General, who shall recover such amounts assessed in the appropriate U.S. district court.
Amends the Commodity Exchange Act to direct the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to establish a joint working group with the Federal Reserve Board, Department of the Treasury, and Securities and Exchange Commission to analyze and report to the appropriate committees of Congress on specified aspects of events on the silver cash and futures markets during the September 1979 through March 1980 period.
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. 14 actions.
- Jun 17, 1980Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 96-276.
- Jun 12, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- Jun 11, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Jun 10, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to Senate amendments.
- Jun 4, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- May 15, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee
- Feb 20, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee
- Feb 19, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #57 (288-82).House roll call 57
- FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
- Feb 13, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Agriculture Committee
- Jan 24, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Agriculture 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.