A joint resolution providing for convening of the first regular session of the 97th Congress on January 5, 1981, and for other purposes.
Public Law 96-566 · H.J.Res. 642 · 96th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Dec 22, 1980 · Congress
Sponsor: Rep. John Murtha (D-PA-12)
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.
Provides that the first regular session of the Ninety-seventh Congress shall begin at noon on Monday, January 5, 1981.
Directs the President to submit to the Congress the estimated outlays and proposed budget authority not later than the date of submission of the budget for fiscal year 1981. Requires the Joint Economic Committee to submit to the Congressional Committees on the Budget an economic evaluation of such report by March 1, 1981.
Committees
The record shows no committee referral for this bill.
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. 10 actions.
- Dec 22, 1980Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 96-566.
- Dec 18, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Dec 16, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
- Dec 12, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed House.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in House.
- 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.