To improve the ability of the Secretary of the Interior to properly manage certain resources of the National Park System.
Public Law 101-337 · H.R. 2844 · 101st Congress · began in the House
Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Jul 27, 1990 · Public Lands and Natural Resources
Sponsor: Rep. Bruce Vento (D-MN-4)
Cosponsors (1): Rep. James Bilbray
Passage votes
- HouseUnanimous consent
- 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.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Declares that any person who destroys, causes the loss of, or injures any park system resource is liable to the United States for response costs and damages. Declares that amounts recovered for such damage (except damage to resources owned by a non-Federal entity) shall be used to: (1) reimburse response costs and damage assessments by the Secretary of the Interior or other appropriate Federal agencies; and (2) restore, replace, or acquire the equivalent of such damaged resources in the National Park System. Prohibits such funds from being used to acquire any lands, waters, interests, or rights unless such acquisition is approved in advance in appropriation Acts.
Requires the Secretary to report annually to specified congressional committees on funds expended pursuant to this Act.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Natural Resources Committee · House · discharged from, referred toSubcommittee: Federal Lands Subcommittee
Energy and Natural Resources Committee · Senate · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: National Parks Subcommittee
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.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 23 actions.
- Jul 27, 1990Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 101-337.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Jul 16, 1990PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Jul 10, 1990Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Vento asked unanimous consent that the House agree to the Senate amendment.
- Jun 30, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
- Jun 19, 1990FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · The committee substitute as amended agreed to by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · Amendment SP 2035 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
- Jun 8, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
- May 23, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
- Feb 21, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by National Parks Subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
- Jul 24, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Referred to National Parks Subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
- Jul 20, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
- Jul 19, 1989FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On passage Passed without objection.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Vento asked unanimous consent to discharge from committee and consider.
- FloorFloor · Considered by unanimous consent.
- CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from House Natural Resources Committee
- Jun 29, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources Committee
- 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.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.