An Act for the relief of sick and disabled seamen[1] was passed by the 5th Congress. It was signed by President John Adams on July 16, 1798. The Act authorized the deduction of twenty cents per month from the wages of seamen, for the sole purpose of funding medical care for sick and disabled seamen, as well as building additional hospitals for the treatment of seamen.[1] While some argue this is the first Federal individual mandate levied on individuals for health insurance,[2] preceding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare"), passed in early 2010, by nearly 212 years; others would point to the fact that this law solely regulated employers engaged in interstate and foreign commerce, and was enacted as a matter of national security.[3]
Quick Facts Enacted by, Effective ...
An Act for the relief of sick and disabled seamen |
Enacted by | the 5th United States Congress |
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Effective | September 1, 1798 |
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- Passed the House of Representatives on April 12, 1798 (Voice)
- Passed the Senate on July 14, 1798 (Voice)
- Signed into law by President John Adams on July 16, 1798
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The bill was introduced into the House of Representatives by a committee appointed for the purpose on February 28, 1798, and read the first and second time that day.[4] After some consideration, the bill was referred back to committee and on April 6, 1798, an amended bill was reported to the House of Representatives and read the first and second time that day.[5] On April 9, 1798, the bill was amended, engrossed and read the third time and on April 12, 1798, the bill was passed and sent to the Senate for concurrence.[6][7]
The bill was received in the Senate on April 12, 1798, and read the first time.[8] The bill received its second reading the following day and was referred to committee.[9] The bill was reported from committee with amendments on June 19, 1798.[10] The bill was amended, read the third time and passed by the Senate on July 14, 1798, and sent back to the House of Representatives for concurrence in the amendments.[11]
The bill was received in the House of Representatives on July 14, 1798, and the Senate amendments were approved the same day.[12] On July 16, 1798, the bill was duly enrolled and transmitted to President John Adams, who signed it into law the same day.[13][14]