To implement the Inter-American Convention on International Commercial Arbitration.
Public Law 101-369 · H.R. 4314 · 101st Congress · began in the House
Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Aug 15, 1990 · International Affairs
Sponsor: Rep. Jack Brooks (D-TX-9)
Cosponsors (5): Rep. Bruce Morrison, Rep. John Rowland,
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.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Provides for the implementation and enforcement of the Inter-American Convention on International Commercial Arbitration by United States courts.
Authorizes courts to issue orders to compel arbitration and to appoint arbitrators in accordance with the agreement of the parties involved, or in accordance with the Convention in the event the agreement makes no provision for arbitration.
Specifies that any arbitral decisions or awards made in the territory of a foreign State shall, on the basis of reciprocity, be recognized and enforced only if that State has ratified or acceded to the Convention.
Provides that where the requirements of the Inter-American Convention and the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards of June 10, 1958, are met, the Inter-American Convention shall apply only if a majority of the parties to arbitration are citizens of States that: (1) have ratified and acceded to such Convention; and (2) are members of the Organization of American States.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Judiciary Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement 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. 19 actions.
- Aug 15, 1990Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 101-369.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Aug 9, 1990PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Aug 4, 1990FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
- CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Senate Foreign Relations Committee
- Jun 6, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Foreign Relations Committee
- Jun 5, 1990FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
- FloorFloor · On ordering a second Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Fish demanded a second on the motion to suspend the rules.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Brooks moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- May 31, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Judiciary Committee
- May 22, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Judiciary Committee
- May 1, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
- Mar 28, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
- Mar 20, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Judiciary 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.