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Constitution Heritage Act of 1988

Public Law 100-433 · H.R. 1939 · 100th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Sep 16, 1988 · Public Lands and Natural Resources

Sponsor: Rep. Bruce Vento (D-MN-4)

Cosponsors (40): Rep. Lindy Boggs,

Passage votes

  • HouseVoice vote
  • SenateVoice vote
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Constitution Heritage Act of 1988 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish the National Constitution Center within or in close proximity to the Independence National Historical Park to disseminate information about the U.S. Constitution in order to increase the awareness of the Constitution among the American people.

Authorizes the Secretary to provide, upon adequate reimbursement, a site, including structures, for the Center by using or modifying an existing structure or constructing a new structure to house the Center. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to, and enter into cooperative agreements, contracts, or leases with, the National Constitution Center, Pennsylvania, which shall operate the Center as provided in this Act. Limits the availability of funds appropriated to the Center to the extent that such funds are matched with funds from non-Federal sources.

Directs the Secretary to interpret the origins and development of the U.S. Constitution at National Park units associated with the Constitution, making not less than 12 units of the National Park System, including the Independence National Historical Park, the sites for such interpretation. Authorizes the Secretary to establish a memorial to the Constitution at such Park. Sets forth other duties of the Secretary with respect to the Constitution. Authorizes appropriations.

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 18 actions.

  1. Sep 16, 1988Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 100-433.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Sep 14, 1988PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Sep 8, 1988Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Agreed to Senate Amendments by Voice Vote.
  5. Aug 9, 1988FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Voice Vote.
  6. Aug 5, 1988CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  7. Jul 27, 1988CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  8. May 28, 1987CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  9. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to National Parks Subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  10. May 27, 1987FloorFloor · Passed House by Yea-Nay Vote: 370 - 10 (Record Vote No: 147).House roll call 147
  11. CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
  12. May 20, 1987CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Natural Resources Committee
  13. May 12, 1987CommitteeCommittee · Reported by National Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  14. CommitteeCommittee · Markup by National Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  15. Apr 30, 1987CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by National Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  16. Apr 10, 1987CommitteeCommittee · Referred to National Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  17. Apr 2, 1987CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources Committee
  18. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.