Agricultural Transportation and Distribution Act of 1979
Latest action. Referred to Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry.
Agricultural Transportation and Distribution Act of 1979 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, beginning in 1982, to prepare annual reports on: (1) the capability of the U.S. transportation system to meet the needs of the agricultural sector and of rural areas (including rural development needs and noting impediments to the transportation needs of rural people and to the movement of agricultural commodities to domestic and international markets); and (2) the principal marketing, distribution, and utilization systems, other than transportation, serving the agricultural industry, including both domestic and international aspects. Establishes in the Department of Agriculture a transportation and distribution agency to coordinate Department programs and responsibilities involved with the transportation and distribution of agricultural commodities. Directs the Secretary to require the use of written contracts, with minimum requirements and conditions, covering the interstate movement by motor carriage of agricultural freight, where such movement involves the services of a broker or other third party. Directs the transportation and distribution agency to carry out a program of research, education, and technical assistance to small businesses engaged in the transportation of agricultural commodities. Requires that shippers of agricultural commodities have a nondelegable financial responsibility for loading such commodities upon any truck or motor vehicle engaged in interstate commerce. Prohibits shippers from making any charge, suffering any charge to be made, or attempting to evade such responsibility therefor. Makes receivers of such goods similarly responsible for the unloading and prohibited from charging for or evading such responsibility. Prohibits any person engaged in the operation of warehouses, ports, terminals, or distribution centers or any shipper or receiver of agricultural commodities from knowingly permitting any robbery, extortion or extortionate practice against truck owners or drivers. Provides for: (1) the investigation and hearing by the Secretary of complaints of violations of this Act; (2) cease and desist orders regarding such violations; and (3) punishment for violations of such orders. Authorizes the Secretary to make rules and regulations and to cooperate with Federal, State, and local agencies to carry out this Act. Authorizes appropriations after fiscal year 1980 to carry out this Act. Provides for the separability of the provisions of this Act.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Introduced in Senate" stage on December 20, 1979. It describes the bill, it is not the legal text.
Where is it in the process, and what happens next?
4 steps remain before this bill could become law.
The record's latest action, on December 20, 1979: Referred to Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry.
- Clearing the committees it was referred to, and being scheduled for a floor vote
- Passage by the Senate
- Passage by the House
- The President's signature. If the President vetoes it, two-thirds of both chambers must vote to override.
How likely is it to become law?
Civibrief does not forecast outcomes and this page has no opinion about this one. What the record supports is a base rate, which is a fact about the whole pile, not a prediction about this measure.
In the 96th Congress (1979-80), 613 of the 12,581 bills and joint resolutions introduced became law, about 4.9 percent. That count covers every measure at every stage, including the many that never left committee.
This one is not there yet: 4 steps are still outstanding, listed above.
Has anyone actually voted on it?
No. No roll call in this Congress cites this measure. That is the ordinary outcome: most measures never reach a recorded floor vote, and a committee ends most of them simply by not acting.
A vote is not the only thing that happens to a measure. Hearings, markups, and referrals are all recorded actions, and none of them is a vote of the full chamber.
Who is behind it?
ROBERT MORGAN (D-NC) introduced it on December 20, 1979. No cosponsors are recorded.
Cosponsoring is a formal signature on the text. It is not a commitment to vote for the measure, it does not bind anyone's party, and a long list of cosponsors is a measure of attention rather than of prospects.
How long has it been in play?
It was introduced on December 20, 1979, 17113 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 17113 days ago, on December 20, 1979.
Measures do not carry over. Anything the 96th Congress has not finished by January 3, 1981 dies when the term ends, and has to be introduced again from the start in the next Congress.
Every answer above is assembled from this measure's own record on Congress.gov and from published counts of what Congress has passed before. Civibrief does not predict outcomes and takes no position on any measure.
Vote history
- SenateIn committee, no floor vote yet
- HouseAwaits Senate passage
- PresidentAwaits both chambers