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United States · Bill · HR

H.R. 7822 (96th)

Family Farm Antitrust Act of 1980

referredUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

24 July 1980

Last action

24 July 1980 · Introduced

Status

Referred to House Committee on the Judiciary.

Sponsors

Rep. Kastenmeier, Robert W. [D-WI-2], Rep. Baldus, Alvin J. [D-WI-3], Rep. Harkin, Tom [D-IA-5], RICHARD NOLAN, Rep. Brown, George E., Jr. [D-CA-36], Rep. Jeffords, James M. [R-VT-At Large], Rep. Forsythe, Edwin B. [R-NJ-6], Rep. Stark, Fortney Pete [D-CA-9], Rep. Florio, James J. [D-NJ-1], Rep. Bonior, David E. [D-MI-12], Rep. Seiberling, John F. [D-OH-14], Rep. Edwards, Don [D-CA-10], Rep. Wolpe, Howard E. [D-MI-3], Rep. Mineta, Norman Y. [D-CA-13], Rep. Simon, Paul [D-IL-24]

Subjects

Agriculture

Source updated

2 September 2025

Agriculture

Official sourceView documentsShare

Summary

Family Farm Antitrust Act of 1980 - Finds that vertical integration of the agricultural industry by corporations engaged in the processing, distributing and retail industries, and other conglomerate corporations, tends to create monopolies in the agricultural industry and produce unfair competition for family farms, contributing to the decline of rural populations and the consequent crowding of metropolitan centers. Declares it to be the national policy to restore competition to the agricultural industry and to provide for the continuance of the family farm. Provides that no person who is engaged in commerce in a business other than farming and whose nonfarming business assets exceed $5,000,000 shall engage in farming or the production of agricultural products or participate in farming by any means of acquisition or control of another person who is engaged in farming. Specifies exceptions including charitable, educational, or nonprofit institutions, and farmer-owned and controlled cooperatives. Permits the continuation of farming interests by persons otherwise in violation of this Act if such interests are not increased or expanded for the five-year period following enactment of this Act. Sets forth civil penalties for violations of provisions of such Act. Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to submit recommendations to the Congress for adjustments to the limitation on nonfarming business assets to reflect changes in economic conditions. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to acquire at fair market value any property or interest of which a person is required to divest himself under the provisions of this Act if the person is otherwise unable to divest himself of such property.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 24 July 1980

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 24 July 1980

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 24 July 1980

    Introduced

    Referred to House Committee on the Judiciary.

    Source: IntroReferral

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.

Documents

1 official file

Sponsors

Related records

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Sources

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