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Foreign Direct Investment and International Financial Data Improvements Act of 1990

Public Law 101-533 · S. 2516 · 101st Congress · began in the Senate

Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Nov 7, 1990 · Foreign Trade and International Finance

Sponsor: Sen. James Exon (D-NE)

Cosponsors (3): Sen. Orrin Hatch,

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.

Foreign Direct Investment and International Financial Data Improvements Act of 1990 - Requires the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to submit to specified congressional committees a report concerning the role and significance of foreign direct investment in the United States.

Authorizes the Comptroller General to review the report and submit to specified congressional committees an analysis of it with recommendations. Provides for the confidentiality of information used in such analysis.

Requires the Bureau of the Census to exchange with the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the Department of Commerce information relating to any business enterprise that operates in the United States if the Secretary determines such information is appropriate to augment and improve the quality of data collected under the International Investment and Trade in Services Survey Act.

Amends such Act to authorize the collection and use of information on direct investments owned or controlled directly or indirectly by foreign governments or persons.

Requires the President to publish for the general public and U.S. agencies information on foreign investment in the United States with tables listing certain businesses (50 percent or more, and 50 percent or less, of whose voting securities are owned or controlled by foreign persons).

Authorizes the President to request from the Bureau of Economic Analysis a report on foreign investment in any given U.S. industry.

Authorizes the Bureau of the Census and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with respect to augmenting and improving the quality of data they collect, to have access to data relating to business enterprises and international services transactions.

Requires: (1) affirmation under oath of certain reports made pursuant to the International Investment and Trade in Services Survey Act by the officer directly responsible for maintenance and compilation of such information; and (2) certification of their substantial accuracy, except when estimates are provided because accurate data are unavailable or cannot be obtained without undue burden.

Increases, and makes mandatory, the civil penalties for failure to provide information under such Act.

Sets forth requirements and penalties with respect to the confidentiality of and access to information collected under this Act.

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. 15 actions.

  1. Nov 7, 1990Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 101-533.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Oct 30, 1990PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Oct 23, 1990FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  5. FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
  6. FloorFloor · On ordering a second Agreed to without objection.
  7. FloorFloor · Mr. Ritter demanded a second on the motion to suspend the rules.
  8. FloorFloor · Mr. Walgren moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
  9. Oct 19, 1990FloorFloor · Passed Senate with amendments by Voice Vote.
  10. FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
  11. Aug 30, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
  12. Jul 31, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
  13. Jul 19, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
  14. Apr 25, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
  15. 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.

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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.