Public Laws

The Employment Act of 1946
Public Law 79-304

Public Debt Act of 1945 (Public Law 79-28) 59 Stat. 47; April 3, 1945; H. R. 2404 (79th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]

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Summary

The Employment Act of 1946 set forth a declaration of continuing policy of the Federal Government related to employment. Specifically, it also established two advisory panels: the President’s Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) and the Joint Economic Committee. Their primary tasks are to review economic conditions and to recommend improvements in economic policy.  It was amended in 1978 by the “Full Employment and Balanced Growth Act of 1978”. 

Legislative History

January 22, 1945 – Introduced in Senate ; S. 380 by James E. Murray (D-MT).
September 28, 1945 – Passed Senate on a vote of 71–10.
December 14, 1945 – Passed House as Employment-Production Act of 1945on a vote of 255–126.
February 6, 1946 – passed House on a vote of 322–84.
February 8, 1946 – Passed Senate under Unanimous Consent.
February 20, 1946 – Signed into law by President Harry S. Truman.

Major amendments

Full Employment and Balanced Growth Act of 1978 (Pub.L. 95–523, 92 Stat. 1887, enacted October 27, 1978, 15 U.S.C. §§ 3101–3152.)

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Legislative Documents

Employment Act of 1946, as Enacted

Section by Section of the “Employment Act of 1946” (derived from the Social Security Bulletin (March 1946)

1945.07.30 History of Full Employment Stabilization Act of 1931 – Report from the Banking Committee Hearing on S. 380

Congressional Record  (1946.02.08) Appendix Statement

Pub. L. 79-304-stat-from-60-stat-23-ch-33

Pub. L. 79-304  – Employment Act of 1946 ( 1946.02.20)

JEC – Title VI Information – Employment Act of 1946, As Amended, with Related Laws and Rules of the Joint Economic Committee

Harry S. Truman: Statement by the President Upon Signing the Employment Act.

Keynesianism Pennsylvania Avenue Style – Some Economic Consequences of the Employment Act of 1946 

History of the Employment Act of 1946 by Aaron Steelman, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond

Employment Act of 1946, Social Security Bulletin

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MS Word Documents

Part IV-03 Employment Act (MS Word Document)

1946 – Employment Act of 1946 – Explanatory Notes From Various Sources (MS Word Document)

1946 – Joint Committee on the Budget From 1946 Explanatory notes From Various Sources (MS Word Document)

1946 – Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 Explanatory Notes from Various Sources (MS Word Document)

1946-02-20- Pub. L. 79-300 (U.S. Code Notes on Employment Act of 1946

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General  Information

Public Law: Pub. L. 79-28
Stat. At Large: 59 Stat. 47
Enacted: April 3, 1945
Bill Number: H. R. 2404 (79th Congress)
Sponsor: James E. Murray
Note: This Act was later significantly amended for budget law purposes by the Humphrey Hawkins Full Employment and Balanced Growth Act of 1978.