A bill to extend the Authorization Period for the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
Public Law 96-291 · H.R. 4889 · 96th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Jun 28, 1980 · Public Lands and Natural Resources
Sponsor: Rep. John Murphy (D-NY-17)
Cosponsors (4): Rep. John Breaux, Rep. Pete McCloskey,
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.
Extends through fiscal year 1983 the authorization period for the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia and North Carolina.
Amends the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 to increase the maximum uniform allowance for each uniformed employee of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service from $125 to $400 annually.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Merchant Marine and Fisheries 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.
- Jun 28, 1980Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 96-291.
- Jun 18, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Jun 17, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Jun 16, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to Senate amendment.
- May 6, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- Apr 30, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
- Dec 11, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
- Dec 10, 1979FloorFloor · Measure passed House.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
- Nov 27, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Jul 20, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Merchant Marine and Fisheries 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.