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A bill to establish in the Department of the Interior the Heritage Preservation Commission, and for other purposes.

Public Law 100-698 · H.R. 3313 · 100th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Nov 19, 1988 · Public Lands and Natural Resources

Sponsor: Rep. John Murtha (D-PA-12)

Cosponsors (5): Rep. Austin Murphy,

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.

Title I: Southwestern Pennsylvania Heritage Preservation Commission - Establishes in the Department of the Interior the Southwestern Pennsylvania Heritage Preservation Commission to make loans or grants to preserve and protect sites which are related to the industrial development of southwestern Pennsylvania. Requires the Commission to coordinate government activities and develop project guidelines and standards consistent with standards established by the National Park Service for the preservation of historic properties. Requires the Commission to report annually to the Secretary of the Interior on loans, grants, expenses, and income. Requires the Secretary to report annually to the Congress on loans, grants, and other technical assistance provided under this Act. Directs the Commission to require and submit to appropriate congressional committees detailed cost estimates for projects to be funded.

Requires the Commission to submit a report concerning the cultural and historical resource values of the greater Allegheny and Washington Counties/Mon-Valley Area to the Secretary for review and submission to the Congress. Terminates the Commission in ten years. Authorizes appropriations. Makes such funds available only to the extent they are matched by equivalent funds from non-Federal sources.

Title II: Southwestern Pennsylvania Industrial Heritage Route - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to designate a vehicular tour route in southwestern Pennsylvania, to be known as the Southwestern Pennsylvania Industrial Heritage Route, linking sites of historic, cultural, natural, and recreational interest. Authorizes the Secretary to erect informational markers, to accept donations of informational devices, and to provide technical assistance in the development of interpretive devices and materials. Authorizes appropriations. Prohibits using such funds for the maintenance of roads or related structures.

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. Nov 19, 1988Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 100-698.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Nov 10, 1988PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Oct 21, 1988Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Agreed to Senate Amendments by Voice Vote.
  5. FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
  6. FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
  7. Sep 22, 1988CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  8. Sep 14, 1988CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  9. Aug 2, 1988CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  10. Jul 26, 1988FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
  11. CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
  12. Jul 13, 1988CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Natural Resources Committee
  13. Jun 30, 1988CommitteeCommittee · 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 19, 1988CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by National Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  16. Oct 9, 1987CommitteeCommittee · Referred to National Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  17. Sep 21, 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.