FEDERALhearing transcript

1980 Congressional Hearings on Plant Closing Legislation

Original title: Hearings on plant closing problems: hearings before the Subcommittee on Labor-Management Relations of the Committee on Education and Labor, House of Representatives, Ninety-sixth Congress, second session, on H.R. 5040, to require business concerns which undertake changes of operations to give notice to the Secretary of Labor, and to affected labor organizations, employees, and local governments; to require business concerns to provide assistance to employees who suffer an employment loss caused by changes of operations; to authorize the Secretary of Labor to provide assistance to such business concerns, and to such affected employees and local governments; and for other purposes, hearings held in Missoula, Mont., August 16, Eugene, Oreg., August 18, 1980.

July 14, 2026

labor relations plant closings employment law business regulation economic development

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The Frame

What this does

This document provides historical context on federal efforts to mandate corporate notification and support requirements during large-scale business closures.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Business concerns

Businesses would be required to provide notice of operational changes and offer assistance to employees facing job loss.

Employees

Employees would receive notice of operational changes and potential assistance if they suffer employment loss.

Local governments

Local governments would receive notice of business operational changes and could receive assistance from the Secretary of Labor.

What changed

Last recorded activity July 14, 2026.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

This document records congressional hearings held in Montana and Oregon regarding H.R. 5040, a proposed bill aimed at regulating business operations changes. The legislation would require companies to provide notice of plant closures and offer assistance to affected employees and local governments.

Key Facts

Hearings were held in August 1980 to discuss the impacts of plant closings.
H.R. 5040 proposed requiring businesses to provide notice of operational changes to the Secretary of Labor.
The bill included provisions for businesses to provide assistance to employees facing job loss.
The Secretary of Labor would be authorized to provide assistance to affected businesses, employees, and local governments.

Why It Matters

This document provides historical context on federal efforts to mandate corporate notification and support requirements during large-scale business closures.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the purpose of H.R. 5040?

The bill aimed to require businesses to notify the government and labor organizations of operational changes and provide assistance to employees affected by job losses.

Where were these hearings conducted?

The hearings were held in Missoula, Montana, on August 16, 1980, and in Eugene, Oregon, on August 18, 1980.