In the aftermath of the 1975 Kepone contamination of the James River and parts of the Chesapeake Bay, many self-employed persons who depended on these waters for their livelihoods found themselves suddenly unable to pursue their work. This was due to the subsequent governmental edict which banned aquatic life from being removed from the polluted waters and sold at the marketplace. Many of the persons so affected were self-employed watermen and, therefore, were not eligible to receive unemployment compensation benefits due to their self-employed status. Consequently, some of those persons were subjected to severe economic hardships with origins over which they had no control. House Joint Resolution No. 94 was introduced at the 1976 General Assembly as an effort to rectify this situation.

George H. Heilig, Jr. of Norfolk, a member of the House of Delegates of Virginia, was elected Chairman. Also appointed to serve from the House of Delegates were Norman Sisisky of Petersburg and Alson H. Smith, Jr. of Winchester.

Appointed to serve from the Senate of Virginia were Peter K. Babalas of Norfolk and Elmon T. Gray of Waverly.

L. Willis Robertson, Jr., Thomas R. Oliver, Jr., and Hugh P. Fisher, III of the Division of Legislative Services served as staff to the Subcommittee.