Gas Related Activities Act of 1990
Public Law 101-572 · H.R. 3656 · 101st Congress · began in the House
Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Nov 15, 1990 · Finance and Financial Sector
Sponsor: Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA-7)
Cosponsors (4): Rep. Matthew Rinaldo, Rep. William Richardson,
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.
Gas Related Activities Act of 1990 - Declares that the acquisition by a registered public utility holding company of any interest in a natural gas company (or a company engaged in specified natural gas-related activities including gas supply-related activities) shall be deemed to be reasonably incidental and economically necessary, for purposes of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, to the operation of the gas utility companies whose voting securities the holding company owns. (This makes any gas-related activities functionally related to the gas distribution business, thus meeting the requirements of such Act, regardless of whether the local distribution company involved is affiliated or unaffiliated with the holding company.)
Requires, where the company whose interest is acquired is organized for gas-supply related activities, that: (1) the company proposing the acquisition must prove that it is in the interest of gas consumers; (2) the Securities and Exchange Commission must determine that such acquisition will not be detrimental to gas consumers; and (3) such determination shall be made on a case-by-case basis and shall not be based on any preset criteria.
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.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 23 actions.
- Nov 15, 1990Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 101-572.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Nov 9, 1990PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Oct 27, 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 amendments Agreed to by voice vote.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · The previous question was ordered without objection.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Moorhead demanded a second on the motion to suspend the rules. Without objection a second was ordered.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Markey moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments.
- FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · Amendment SP 3206 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
- Jun 8, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee
- Jun 7, 1990FloorFloor · Returned to the House pursuant to their request, and by unanimous consent.
- May 10, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee
- May 8, 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. Rinaldo demanded a second on the motion to suspend the rules.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Markey moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Energy and Commerce Committee
- Mar 13, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Energy and Commerce Committee
- Nov 14, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Energy and Commerce 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.