An act to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 1981, 1982, and 1983 for the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act of 1975, and for other purposes.
Public Law 96-339 · S. 2549 · 96th Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Sep 4, 1980 · Public Lands and Natural Resources
Sponsor: Sen. Warren Magnuson (D-WA)
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.
(Senate agreed to House amendments with an amendment)
Amends the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act of 1975 to add five new positions to the advisory committee appointed by the U.S. Commissioners to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas. Declares that each member of such committee shall serve for a term of two years and shall be eligible through reappointment. Authorizes appropriations through fiscal year 1983 for the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act of 1975.
Requires the Secretary of Commerce to establish a program under which a United States observer will be stationed aboard each foreign fishing vessel while that vessel is in waters that are within the Fishery Conservation Zone and the Convention area and is taking, or attempting to take, any species of fish which may result in the incidental taking of billfish.
Requires such observers, while aboard foreign fishing vessels, to carry out such scientific and other functions as the Secretary deems necessary or appropriate.
Imposes fees for each year after 1980 on the owner or operator of each foreign fishing vessel that will engage in fishing in such waters in an amount sufficient to cover all of the costs of providing an observer aboard that vessel.
Establishes in the Treasury of the United States the Foreign Fishing Observer Fund which shall consist of the fees collected under this Act.
Declares that it is unlawful for any person who is the owner or operator of a foreign fishing vessel to which this Act applies to: (1) violate any regulation issued under this Act; (2) refuse to pay the fee imposed by the Secretary; or (3) refuse to permit an individual who is authorized to act as an observer to board the vessel for purposes of carrying out observer functions.
Requires the Secretary to prepare, for each biennial period commencing with the period covering calendar years 1981 and 1982, and submit to the Congress a report regarding bluefin tuna, with respect to such 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. 13 actions.
- Sep 4, 1980Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 96-339.
- Aug 26, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- Aug 25, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Aug 22, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to Senate amendments.
- Jul 28, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendments with an amendment.
- Jun 3, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, in lieu of H. R. 6310.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in House.
- May 20, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate.
- May 14, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Apr 3, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
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.