Maritime Act of 1981
Public Law 97-31 · H.R. 4074 · 97th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Aug 6, 1981 · Transportation and Public Works
Sponsor: Rep. Walter Jones (D-NC-1)
Cosponsors (25): Rep. Marion Snyder, Rep. Mario Biaggi,
Passage votes
- HouseVoice vote
- SenateVoice vote
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.
Maritime Act of 1981 - Transfers all of the functions, powers, duties, assets, and liabilities of the Maritime Administration of the Department of Commerce to the Department of Transportation.
Establishes the office of the Maritime Administrator to head the Maritime Administration.
Transfers personnel employed in connection with the functions transferred by this Act.
Directs the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to make such incidental dispositions of personnel, assets, liabilities, records, and appropriations as may be necessary to resolve disputes between the Secretaries of Commerce and Transportation that may arise in connection with the transfer. Terminates the Director's authority 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
Makes conforming amendments to specified Acts.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee · House · hearings by (full committee), markup by, 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. 11 actions.
- Aug 6, 1981Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 97-31.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Jul 31, 1981PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Jul 29, 1981FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
- Jul 27, 1981FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · Called up by House by Unanimous Consent.
- Jul 24, 1981CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Jul 9, 1981CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Jul 8, 1981CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Merchant Marine and Fisheries 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.