A bill to provide for the payment of losses incurred as a result of the ban on the use of the chemical Tris in apparel, in fabric, yarn, or fiber, and for other purposes.
Public Law 97-395 · S. 823 · 97th Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Dec 30, 1982 · Law
Sponsor: Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-SC)
Cosponsors (8): Sen. Ted Kennedy, Sen. Harry Byrd,
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.
Grants the Court of Claims jurisdiction over claims against the United States for losses sustained by producers, processors, manufacturers, distributors, or other persons resulting from the ban on children's sleepwear containing Tris phosphate.
Enumerates factors to be considered by the court in determining the validity of claims. Prohibits any payments under this Act until such time as the claimant produces proof of the proper disposal of such goods. States that the amount of losses shall not include lost profits, distress sale proceeds, attorney fees, or interest on losses.
Sets forth the measure of losses for producers, converters, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of Tris-treated sleepwear or the fabric yarn, or fiber. Prohibits class action claims. Subrogates the United States to a successful claimants' rights to recover losses.
Bars claims under this Act unless begun within two years of enactment.
Prohibits recovery by any claimant who knowingly exported Tris-treated products after June 14, 1978.
Provides for the offset of any judgment obtained by a claimant against any unpaid loans owed to the Small Business Administration.
States that nothing in this Act constitutes an admission by the United States of liability for any personal injuries resulting from the use of Tris-treated products.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Judiciary Committee · House · discharged from, referred toSubcommittee: Administrative Law and Governmental Relations Subcommittee
Judiciary Committee · Senate · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Crime and Counterterrorism 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. 18 actions.
- Dec 30, 1982Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 97-395.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Dec 18, 1982PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Dec 14, 1982Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendment. By Voice Vote.
- Dec 13, 1982FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
- CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from House Judiciary Committee
- Aug 11, 1982CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Administrative Law and Governmental Relations Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Administrative Law and Governmental Relations Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
- Jun 16, 1982CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Administrative Law and Governmental Relations Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
- Jun 24, 1981CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Administrative Law and Governmental Relations Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
- Jun 22, 1981CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Judiciary Committee
- Jun 18, 1981FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
- Jun 3, 1981CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Judiciary Committee
- May 12, 1981CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Judiciary Committee
- May 5, 1981CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Crime and Counterterrorism Subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee
- Apr 6, 1981CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Crime and Counterterrorism Subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee
- Mar 27, 1981CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
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.