National Fishery Development Act

passedUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

2 August 1979

Last action

18 November 1980 · Passed

Status

House agreed to Senate amendments with an amendment under suspension of rules.

Summary

National Fishery Development Act - Amends the Act of August 11, 1939, to require the Secretary of Agriculture to transfer moneys made available to encourage exportation and domestic consumption of agriculture products to the Secretary of Commerce in amounts equal to 30 percent of the gross receipts from duties collected under custom laws on fishery products. Declares that such funds shall be maintained in a separate fund and used by the Secretary of Commerce to carry out a national program of fisheries research and development which promotes the free flow of domestically produced fishery products in domestic and international commerce by conducting fishery educational, technological, biological, and related research programs, and to provide financial assistance for fisheries development projects. Allows any person, regional fishery development foundation, or organization involved with the commercial fishing industry to make application to the Secretary of Commerce for such funds. Requires the person or organization obtaining such funds to submit periodic project status reports to the Secretary. Requires the Secretary of Commerce to include as part of the annual report to the National Marine Fisheries Service an analysis and evaluation of all programs funded under this Act. Requires the Secretary of Commerce to transmit to specified House and Senate committees, 60 days in advance of each fiscal year, a list of projects and a budget for each project which is proposed under this Act. Requires that not less than 50 percent of the moneys in the fund shall be made available annually to fund the projects and programs, and that the remainder of such moneys be made available to implement the national fisheries research and development program. Requires the Secretary of Commerce to appoint not fewer than six officers who shall, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, serve abroad to promote United States fishing interests. Requires the Secretary of State, upon the request of the Secretary of Commerce, to officially assign the officers to the diplomatic mission of the United States in the country in which such officers are placed, and to obtain for them diplomatic privileges and immunities. Transfers any balance of funds remaining in the fisheries loan fund created by the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956, as of September 30, 1980, to the Federal Ship Financing Fund established under the Merchant Marine Act of 1936. Requires the Secretary of Commerce to provide for the guarantee of obligations relating to fishing vessels engaged in developing fisheries which might not otherwise meet the normal economic soundness criteria established under the Merchant Marine Act of 1936.

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

Timeline

2 August 1979
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
Source: IntroReferral
2 August 1979
Introduced
Referred to Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Source: IntroReferral
28 November 1979
Reported
Reported to Senate from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation with amendment, S. Rept. 96-431.
Source: Committee
28 November 1979
Reported
Reported to Senate from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation with amendment, S. Rept. 96-431.
Source: Committee
5 December 1979
Floor
Call of calendar in Senate.
Source: Floor
5 December 1979
Passed
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Measure passed Senate, amended.
Source: Floor
6 December 1979
Introduced
Referred to House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries.
Source: IntroReferral
23 September 1980
Passed
Measure passed House, amended, in lieu of H.R. 7039.
Source: Floor
23 September 1980
Passed
Passed/agreed to in House: Measure passed House, amended, in lieu of H.R. 7039.
Source: Floor
23 September 1980
Floor
Measure considered in House.
Source: Floor
23 September 1980
Discharge
Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries discharged in House.
Source: Discharge
23 September 1980
Committee
Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries discharged in House.
Source: Committee
30 September 1980
Passed
Senate agreed to House amendment with an amendment.
Source: ResolvingDifferences
30 September 1980
Passed
Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to House amendment with an amendment.
Source: NotUsed
18 November 1980
Passed
House agreed to Senate amendments with an amendment under suspension of rules.
Source: ResolvingDifferences
18 November 1980
Passed
Resolving differences -- House actions: House agreed to Senate amendments with an amendment under suspension of rules.
Source: NotUsed

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

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

Documents

6 official files

House agreed to Senate amendment with amendment
summary · EN · 18 November 1980
Open at official source
Senate agreed to House amendment with amendment
summary · EN · 30 September 1980
Open at official source
Passed House amended
summary · EN · 23 September 1980
Open at official source
Passed Senate amended
summary · EN · 5 December 1979
Open at official source
Reported to Senate with amendment(s)
summary · EN · 28 November 1979
Open at official source
Introduced in Senate
summary · EN · 2 August 1979
Open at official source

Related records

Sources

PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.

Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/96th-congress/senate-bill/1656
Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/96/s/1656
us · 96-s-1656 · source updated 2 September 2025