October 24, 1984
Today I am signing into law H.R. 6027, the Local Government Antitrust Act of 1984, which
clarifies the application of the Federal antitrust laws to the official conduct of local governments.
This bill provides much needed and timely relief for our cities, towns, school districts, sanitary
districts, and other similar local governmental bodies from the threat of massive treble damages in
the antitrust cases that are being brought with increasing frequency against them. While the
antitrust laws serve very important purposes, they were never intended to threaten public
treasuries and the taxpayers' pocketbooks, or to disrupt the good faith functioning of local units of
governments. The administration has been a strong supporter of this legislation, and I commend
the efforts of the local officials and those in the Senate and House of Representatives who worked
so hard for its enactment during the 98th Congress.
Note: As enacted, H.R. 6027 is Public Law 98 - 544, approved October 24.