A bill to set aside certain surplus vessels for use in the provision of health and other humanitarian services to developing countries.
Public Law 97-360 · H.R. 4828 · 97th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Oct 22, 1982 · International Affairs
Sponsor: Rep. Parren Mitchell (D-MD-7)
Cosponsors (49): Rep. Guy Vander Jagt, Rep. Ronald Dellums,
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.
Directs the Secretary of Transportation to designate specified surplus government ships to be used to provide humanitarian services for developing countries. Prohibits removing such ships from the National Defense Reserve Fleet, unless: (1) the Secretary determines that one or more of the ships are required for national security purposes; or (2) the Secretary transfers one or more of the ships to LIFE International, a nonprofit organization.
Requires such ships to be operated as charitable vessels while in the possession of LIFE International. Prohibits using such ships for commercial transportation purposes. Requires that a ship shall be conveyed backed to the United States if LIFE International no longer needs it.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Merchant Marine Subcommittee
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. 15 actions.
- Oct 22, 1982Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 97-360.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Oct 13, 1982PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Oct 1, 1982FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
- CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Aug 18, 1982CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Aug 17, 1982FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
- Aug 12, 1982CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Aug 3, 1982CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Jun 24, 1982CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Merchant Marine Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Merchant Marine Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- May 19, 1982CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Merchant Marine Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Nov 12, 1981CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Merchant Marine Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Oct 22, 1981CommitteeCommittee · 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.