An act to amend the Shipping Act, 1916, to exempt collective bargaining and related agreements from regulation by the Federal Maritime Commission.
Public Law 96-325 · H.R. 6613 · 96th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Aug 8, 1980 · Labor and Employment
Sponsor: Rep. John Murphy (D-NY-17)
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.
Maritime Labor Agreements Act of 1980 - Amends the Shipping Act, 1916, to define the term "maritime labor agreement" for the purposes of such Act.
Excludes maritime labor agreements, unless provisions thereof provide for an assessment agreement, from specified filing requirements of the Federal Maritime Commission.
Directs that certain collectively bargained fringe benefit assessment agreements shall be deemed approved upon filing with the Commission. Directs the Commission, upon complaint, to disapprove, cancel, or modify such agreements and to issue its final decision within one year of the date of filing of the complaint. Sets forth remedies for discrimination or unfairness in such agreements.
Exempts maritime labor agreements (except for provisions dealing with fringe benefit obligations) from the Shipping Act, 1916, and the Intercoastal Shipping Act, 1933.
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.
- Aug 8, 1980Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 96-325.
- Aug 1, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- Jul 31, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Jul 30, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to Senate amendments.
- Jul 24, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- Jul 16, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Apr 16, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Apr 15, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #178 (358-2).House roll call 178
- FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
- CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Feb 26, 1980CommitteeCommittee · 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.