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Coastal Barrier Improvement Act of 1990

Public Law 101-591 · H.R. 2840 · 101st Congress · began in the House

Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Nov 16, 1990 · Water Resources Development

Sponsor: Rep. Gerry Studds (D-MA-10)

Cosponsors (49): Rep. Robert Mrazek,

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.

Coastal Barrier Improvement Act of 1990 - Amends the Coastal Barrier Resources Act to remove references to unconsolidated sedimentary materials from the definition of "undeveloped coastal barrier." Includes expenditures or financial assistance within the definition of "new" if no money was appropriated before the relevant System unit was included within the System under the Act or this Act.

Establishes the Coastal Barrier Resources System, to consist of those undeveloped coastal barriers on the U.S. coasts identified on specified maps. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to review the maps at least every five years and make minor and technical modifications as necessary because of natural forces.

Sets forth procedures for: (1) technical revisions to the maps by the Secretary to correct clerical and typographical errors; (2) recommendations of State and local governments and Coastal Zone Management Agencies for technical revisions; (3) election by a local government and the governor of that State, and any qualified organization, to add a new area to the System; (4) addition to the System of excess Federal property; (5) minor and technical modifications to boundaries of existing units as necessary to clarify the boundaries; and (6) notifications regarding modifications and elections.

Sets forth exceptions, with regard to existing limitations on expenditures, relating to energy resources, navigation channels, certain publicly owned or operated roads or structures, military activities essential to national security, Coast Guard facilities, and other specified matters if consistent with the purposes of this Act. Declares a Federal navigation channel to be an existing channel if it was authorized before the date the relevant System unit was included in the System. Declares that the limitations on expenditures do not apply: (1) to a highway in a System unit in Michigan and in existence at the enactment of this Act; or (2) subject to exception, to a specified System unit. Repeals provisions of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act relating to expenditure limitations with regard to certain highways in Michigan. Adds a specified map to the list of exemptions to certain spending limitations.

Directs the Secretary to submit to specified congressional committees maps identifying the boundaries of those undeveloped coastal barriers along the U.S. Pacific coast south of a specified latitude, including maps of areas appropriate for inclusion in the System.

Designates a specified System unit in Florida as the Frank M. McGilvrey Unit.

Establishes an interagency task force to be known as the Coastal Barriers Task Force to submit to the Congress a report concerning specified aspects of the System. Terminates the Task Force after submission of its report.

Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to prohibit new flood insurance for new construction or substantial improvements in certain areas.

Requires the Resolution Trust Corporation (RTC) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report to the Congress annually regarding property to which the RTC or the FDIC has acquired title that: (1) is located in the System; or (2) is undeveloped, of a minimum size, and adjacent to any lands managed by a governmental agency primarily for wildlife refuge, sanctuary, open space, recreational, historical, cultural, or natural resource conservation purposes. Limits transfers of such property.

Authorizes the Secretary to purchase any property within the area added to a specified unit of the System by this Act. Directs the Secretary to provide that any property purchased under this provision be used and administered in accordance with the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966.

Authorizes appropriations for carrying out the Coastal Barrier Resources Act and for carrying out this Act.

Requires the head of each Federal agency affected by this Act to certify their agency's compliance with this Act.

Directs the Secretary of Transportation, notwithstanding another law, to transfer without consideration by quitclaim deed to Dare County, North Carolina, all rights, title, and interest of the United States in specified Coast Guard property in such county.

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

  • Financial Services Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Policy Research and Insurance Subcommittee
  • Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation and the Environment Subcommittee; Oceanography Subcommittee
  • Transportation and Infrastructure Committee · House · discharged from, 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.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 36 actions.

  1. Nov 16, 1990Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 101-591.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Nov 9, 1990PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Oct 27, 1990Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  5. Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by voice vote.
  6. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Goss demanded a second on the motion to suspend the rules. Without objection a second was ordered.
  7. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Studds moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments.
  8. Oct 26, 1990FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
  9. FloorFloor · Amendment SP 3183 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.
  10. FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
  11. Sep 28, 1990FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  12. FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
  13. FloorFloor · On ordering a second Agreed to without objection.
  14. FloorFloor · Mr. Young (AK) demanded a second on the motion to suspend the rules.
  15. FloorFloor · Mr. Studds moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  16. Sep 19, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Financial Services Committee
  17. Sep 18, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Financial Services Committee
  18. Sep 14, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
  19. Sep 11, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Policy Research and Insurance Subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee
  20. CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Policy Research and Insurance Subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee
  21. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Policy Research and Insurance Subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee
  22. CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Policy Research and Insurance Subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee
  23. Aug 3, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Financial Services Committee
  24. CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
  25. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
  26. Jun 27, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
  27. Jun 20, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation and the Environment Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
  28. CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation and the Environment Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
  29. CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Oceanography Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
  30. CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Oceanography Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
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.