A joint resolution to establish a national policy on permanent papers.
Public Law 101-423 · S.J.Res. 57 · 101st Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Oct 12, 1990 · Arts, Culture, Religion
Sponsor: Sen. Claiborne Pell (D-RI)
Cosponsors (48): Sen. Daniel Moynihan, Sen. Frank Murkowski,
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 it to be the policy of the United States that Federal records, books, and publications of enduring value be produced on acid-free permanent papers.
Makes recommendations relating to such papers to Federal agencies, American publishers, and to State and local governments. Recommends that the Secretary of State, the Librarian of Congress, the Archivist of the United States, and others make known such national policy to foreign governments and appropriate international agencies.
Directs the Librarian of Congress, the Archivist of the United States, and the Public Printer to monitor progress in implementing such policy and to report to the Congress on December 31, 1991, December 31, 1993, and December 31, 1995.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Oversight and Accountability Committee · House · discharged from, referred toSubcommittee: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Subcommittee- Committee on House Administration · House · discharged from, referred toSubcommittee: Libraries and Memorials Subcommittee
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee · Senate · discharged from, markup by, referred to
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. 21 actions.
- Oct 12, 1990Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 101-423.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Oct 1, 1990PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Sep 26, 1990Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to the House amendments by Voice Vote.
- Sep 17, 1990FloorFloor · A similar measure H.J. Res. 226 was laid on the table without objection.
- FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On passage Passed without objection.
- FloorFloor · The House struck all after the enacting clause and inserted in lieu thereof the provisions of a similar measure H.J. Res. 226. Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · Considered by unanimous consent.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Wise asked unanimous consent to discharge from committees and consider.
- CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from House Oversight and Government Reform Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from House Committee on House Administration
- Aug 7, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Subcommittee of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee
- Aug 4, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Libraries and Memorials Subcommittee of the House Committee on House Administration
- Aug 2, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Oversight and Government Reform Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Committee on House Administration
- Aug 1, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
- Jul 31, 1989FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Voice Vote.
- Jul 13, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
- Feb 8, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
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.