A bill relating to the tariff treatment of certain articles.
Public Law 96-467 · H.R. 3122 · 96th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Oct 17, 1980 · Foreign Trade and International Finance
Sponsor: Rep. Charles Vanik (D-OH-22)
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.
Amends the Tariff Schedules of the United States to permit the duty-free entry of: (1) specified dying and tanning products; (2) carillons containing over 34 bells; and (3) synthetic tantalum-columbium concentrates.
Suspends, until June 30, 1981, the duties on: (1) wood excelsior; and (2) 2-methyl-4-chlorophenol. Suspends, until June 30, 1984, the duty on certain forms of zinc.
Reduces from 15 percent to four percent the duty on certain ceramic insulates used in spark plugs until June 30, 1981.
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to admit free of duty (or refund duty already paid): (1) 47 carillon bells and all accompanying parts and accessories for the use of Wake Forest University in North Carolina; (2) 49 such bells and parts for the use of the University of Florida; and (3) certain roof tiles purchased by the Chinese Cultural and Community Center in Pennsylvania.
Extends until June 30, 1982, the duty free entry of: (1) a telescope and associated articles for the use of the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope Project at Mauna Kea, Hawaii; and (2) synthetic rutile.
Suspends the duty on certain cobalt alloys until June 30, 1982.
Extends the duty-free entry of bicycle lighting sets and parts until June 30, 1983. Revises the list of parts eligible for duty-free entry.
Authorizes the retroactive duty-free treatment of manganese ore which entered the United States between June 30, 1979, and January 1, 1980.
Revises the definition of rubber for purposes of such schedules to include substances which cannot meet specified tests after the addition of fillers, extenders, pigments, or chemicals.
Amends the Trade Agreements Act of 1979 to make technical corrections in the tariff treatment of watches. Stipulates that the ad valorem duties imposed on iron and steel products are in addition to specified rates of duty. Exempts flight simulating machines, balloons, gliders, and airplanes from the duty-free treatment proclaimed for articles certified for use in civil aircraft.
Permits the duty-free entry of field glasses, opera glasses, and prism binoculars.
Extends, until June 30, 1984, the duty-free entry of feathers and downs.
Directs the Secretary to admit duty-free, or refund the duty for, an organ for Ohio Wesleyan University and organ components for St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Riverside, Connecticut.
Requires wire, for tariff purposes, to be in coils (currently may be cut to length). Reduces the duty on cold-formed steel bars, other than alloy steel, from 8.5 percent to 5 percent and 7.5 percent after December 31, 1981.
Exempts deepwater ports from coverage under any provisions of title 19 (customs duties) the United States Code.
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. 14 actions.
- Oct 17, 1980Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 96-467.
- Oct 10, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Oct 9, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- Oct 8, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Oct 2, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to Senate amendments.
- Oct 1, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- Dec 11, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Finance Committee
- Sep 11, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Finance Committee
- Sep 10, 1979FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
- Jul 24, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Ways and Means Committee
- Mar 20, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Ways and Means 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.