An act to provide for the development of State plans for the construction and improvement of subterminal storage and transportation facilities for certain types of agricultural commodities within the State or within a group of States acting together on a regional basis, and to amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to authorize loans for the construction and improvement of such facilities, and for other purposes.
Public Law 96-358 · S. 261 · 96th Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Sep 25, 1980 · Agriculture and Food
Sponsor: Sen. George McGovern (D-SD)
Cosponsors (1): Sen. Edward Zorinsky
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.
Agricultural Subterminal Facilities Act of 1980 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to make grants available to States to assist in the development of plans for subterminal facilities for such States. Requires the utilization of the resources of colleges and universities in developing such plans. Limits such assistance to not in excess of 80 percent of plan preparation costs. Prescribes the necessary elements of such plans, including an analysis of the marketing, shipping, storage, and production of bulk agricultural commodities produced in such State or region and the short- and long-range projections with respect to the marketing, shipping, storage, and production of such commodities in such State or region, and an assessment of the overall transportation system in the State or region.
Requires each State or region seeking funds for such purposes to establish a plan review commission comprised primarily of local producers or consumers of bulk agricultural commodities. Requires such Commission to make recommendations regarding the need for a State or regional plan and the most beneficial location of subterminal facilities.
Requires States seeking grants to submit an application, meet specified minimum levels for average annual production of bulk agricultural commodities, have experienced certifiable serious storage and transportation problems, establish a plan for rail service, and have developed a plan approved by the majority of the members of the appropriate plan review commission.
Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 1981 through 1983 to implement such grant program.
Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to authorize the Secretary to insure and guarantee loans to public, private, or cooperative organizations organized for profit or nonprofit or to individuals to finance the construction or improvement of subterminal facilities.
Provides that such assistance may be furnished only if: (1) the construction or improvement of the subterminal facilities is consistent with an approved State or regional plan and the recommendations of the local plan review commission; (2) the Secretary determines that the ownership and operation of the facility will result in the efficient and competitive shipment of bulk agricultural commodities and increased benefits to local producers; and (3) the Secretary determines that the rail carrier designated to provide service to the facility will be able to provide adequate service.
Authorizes the Secretary to make such loan assistance available only if borrowers are unable to obtain credit from commercial lending institutions.
Requires the Secretary, in order to preserve local ownership and control of agricultural transportation, to give loan assistance preference to existing storage facility operators and local agricultural producers in the area to be served by the subterminal facility.
Provides that the loan authority for such facilities and equipment shall be allocated among qualifying States or groups of States based on a formula established by the Secretary.
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 25, 1980Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 96-358.
- Sep 16, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Sep 11, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendments.
- Jun 3, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, in lieu of H. R. 7141.
- CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from House Agriculture Committee
- May 30, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Agriculture Committee
- May 23, 1979FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- May 15, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee
- Jan 31, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry 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.