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Civil Aeronautics Board Sunset Act of 1984

Public Law 98-443 · H.R. 5297 · 98th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Oct 4, 1984 · Transportation and Public Works

Sponsor: Rep. Norman Mineta (D-CA-13)

Cosponsors (6): Rep. James Howard,

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.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Civil Aeronautics Board Sunset Act of 1984 - Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to terminate certain functions of the Civil Aeronautics Board and transfer others to the Department of Transportation.

Transfers to the Department the authority of the Board concerning: (1) consolidation, merger, and acquisition of control; (2) interlocking relationships; (3) pooling and other agreements; and (4) antitrust exemptions. (Currently, such authority is scheduled for transfer to the Department of Justice effective January 1, 1985). Terminates such authority of the Department of Transportation on January 1, 1989.

Terminates the authority of the Board with respect to the air carriage of mail, tariffs of air carriers, and rates of service on January 1, 1985.

Terminates the authority of the Board with respect to stock ownership disclosures, loans and financial aid approvals, special operating authorizations, and certain rate-making provisions on January 1, 1985.

Transfers to the U.S. Postal Service the Board's authority to set rates for domestic mail, except with respect to the carriage of mail within Alaska. Transfers such authority with respect to Alaska to the Department of Transportation.

Deems all authority of the Board not otherwise terminated or transferred on or before January 1, 1985, to be transferred to the Department of Transportation.

Transfers the authority of the Department of Transportation to set rates for the carriage of mail within Alaska to the Postal Service on January 1, 1989. Directs the Postal Service to exercise such authority through negotiations or competitive bidding.

Transfers to the Secretary of Transportation all functions, powers, and duties of the Board under specified provisions of law.

Requires the Secretary to collect and disseminate certain information on passengers traveling in interstate and overseas air transportation. Prohibits the Secretary from requiring air carriers to submit such information on a flight-by-flight basis.

Requires the Secretary to report to the appropriate congressional committees by July 1, 1987, with respect to consolidation transactions, interlocking relationships, and agreements that have been exempted under the antitrust laws and recommend whether such authority should be retained or repealed.

Requires both the Secretary and the Postmaster General to submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees by July 1, 1987, on their respective authorities to establish rates for the air transportation of mail, including recommendations with respect to such authority in Alaska.

Authorizes air carriers to incorporate by reference in any ticket or other written instrument any of the terms of the contract of carriage in air transportation.

Makes miscellaneous amendments to conform to provisions of this Act.

Transfers to the appropriate agencies the personnel, assets, liabilities, and records connected with any function transferred by this Act.

Requires the Board or the Secretary (as the case may be) to consult with the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board prior to issuing or amending any order, rule, regulation, or procedure that will have a significant impact on the accessibility of commercial airports or air transportation for handicapped persons.

Directs the Secretary of Transportation to study the feasibility of constructing a rail rapid transit line between the West Falls Church, Virginia, station of the Washington, D. C., metrorail system and Dulles International Airport in Virginia.

Declares that until January 1, 1987, essential air service at specified cities in Alaska shall be operated with the size aircraft provided for in a certain Board order, unless otherwise specified under an agreement between the Department of Transportation and Alaska. Limits the amount of compensation which may be paid for such essential air transportation for FY 1985 and 1986, and for the period beginning October 1, 1986, and ending December 31, 1986. Directs the Secretary to study the feasibility of providing such transportation with smaller capacity aircraft, the level of compensation required for such transportation, and the impact of such aircraft on the air transportation system in Alaska. Requires a report to Congress on such study by January 1, 1986.

Prohibits a specified Board order from taking effect before December 31, 1984.

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.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 27 actions.

  1. Oct 4, 1984Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 98-443.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Sep 26, 1984PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Sep 20, 1984Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report by Voice Vote.
  5. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report by Voice Vote.
  6. Sep 19, 1984Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Agreed to Conference Report by Voice Vote.
  7. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House Agreed to Conference Report by Voice Vote.
  8. Sep 14, 1984Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference Report 98-1025 Filed in House.
  9. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference Report 98-1025 Filed in House.
  10. Sep 13, 1984Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conferees agreed to file conference report.
  11. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference committee actions: Conferees agreed to file conference report.
  12. Aug 10, 1984Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Agreed to Request for Conference and Speaker Appointed Conferees: Mineta, Anderson, Roe, Snyder, Hammerschmidt.
  13. Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Disagreed to Senate Amendments by Unanimous Consent.
  14. Aug 9, 1984Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate insists on its amendments, asks for a conference, appoints conferees Packwood; Goldwater; Kassebaum; Hollings; Exon.
  15. FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
  16. FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
  17. Aug 1, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
  18. Jun 21, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security Subcommittee of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
  19. Jun 7, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
  20. Jun 5, 1984FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
  21. May 21, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
  22. Apr 10, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Aviation Subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
  23. CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Aviation Subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
  24. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Aviation Subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
  25. Mar 29, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
  26. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
  27. 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.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.