Chesapeake Bay Research Coordination Act of 1980
Public Law 96-460 · H.R. 4417 · 96th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Oct 15, 1980 · Water Resources Development
Sponsor: Rep. Robert Bauman (R-MD-1)
Cosponsors (2): Rep. Marjorie Holt, Rep. Barbara Mikulski
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.
Chesapeake Bay Research Coordination Act of 1980 - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish in the Department of Commerce a separate office known as the Office for Chesapeake Bay Research Coordination. Requires that the Office be headed by a Director whose knowledge and experience in research efforts on the Chesapeake Bay area qualifies the Director to serve as an advisor with respect to research. Directs the Secretary to seek the recommendations of the Governors of Maryland and Virginia and, in consultation with the heads of specified agencies, to appoint the Director. Authorizes the Director to appoint personnel for the Office.
Requires such Office, when directed to do so by the Chesapeake Bay Research Board, to: (1) identify Federal and State research programs relating to the Chesapeake Bay area and annually update such inventory; (2) establish a Chesapeake Bay Research Exchange; (3) make recommendations to the Research Board on the relationship of Federal programs to the Chesapeake Bay Research Plan; and (4) make recommendations to the Research Board on possible revisions to such Research Plan.
Requires the Office to work with the Research Board to: (1) identify the need for, and the priority of, research programs which could benefit the management of the resources of the Chesapeake Bay area; (2) promote optimum utilization of available funds and resources to benefit the Chesapeake Bay area; (3) remain cognizant of ongoing research programs and assist in the dissemination of the results and findings of research programs; (4) conduct periodic meetings with representatives of Federal, State, regional, and local agencies, and representatives of the scientific community having responsibility for the administration of research programs in the Chesapeake Bay area; (5) review proposed Federal legislation which may affect the Chesapeake Bay area and comment on the relation of such legislation to the Research Plan; (6) determine existing Federal and State programs relating to the Chesapeake Bay area and annually update this inventory; (7) plan and conduct a conference on Chesapeake Bay area affairs at least once every two years; (8) prepare for the Board an annual report on research programs pertaining to the Chesapeake Bay area; and (9) perform such other activities as are consistent with the purposes of this Act.
Directs the Secretary to make available to the Office such administrative services and staff as may be reasonably necessary.
Establishes the Chesapeake Bay Research Board, to consist of 15 members selected by the Governors of Virginia and Maryland and by the Secretary, in consultation with the heads of specified agencies. Directs the Secretary and the Governors to ensure that the Board is comprised of qualified individuals who represent the interests of Federal, State, and local government, industry, the public, and the scientific and environmental communities. Requires the Board membership to elect the Chairman of the Board annually.
Requires the Board to: (1) develop and biennially update a Chesapeake Bay Research Plan consistent with the missions and interests of appropriate agencies and States; (2) review and evaluate, periodically, Federal research programs pertaining to the Chesapeake Bay area, and ascertain the extent to which such programs are consistent with the Research Plan; and (3) submit an annual report to Congress and the Governors of Maryland and Virginia on research programs pertaining to the Chesapeake Bay area, their relationship to the Research Plan, and any recommendations for improving the coordination of such research.
Authorizes appropriations to carry out the purposes of this Act for each of fiscal years 1982, 1983, and 1984.
Terminates the authority conferred by this Act on September 30, 1984.
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. 16 actions.
- Oct 15, 1980Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 96-460.
- Oct 6, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- Oct 3, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Sep 30, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to Senate amendment.
- Sep 24, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- Sep 17, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
- May 21, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
- May 19, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in House.
- May 16, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- May 15, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
- Jun 11, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Science, Space, and Technology 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.