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Natural Gas Wellhead Decontrol Act of 1989

Public Law 101-60 · H.R. 1722 · 101st Congress · began in the House

Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Jul 26, 1989 · Energy

Sponsor: Rep. Philip Sharp (D-IN-2)

Cosponsors (35): Rep. Carlos Moorhead,

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.

Natural Gas Wellhead Decontrol Act of 1989 - Amends the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 to declare that the price guidelines for the first sale of natural gas do not apply to: (1) expired, terminated, or post-enactment contracts executed after the date of enactment of this Act; and (2) certain renegotiated contracts. Decontrols as of May 15, 1991, natural gas produced from newly spudded wells. Repeals permanently wellhead price controls beginning on January 1, 1993.

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. 46 actions.

  1. Jul 26, 1989Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 101-60.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Jul 14, 1989PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Jul 12, 1989Resolving differencesResolving differences · On agreeing to the conference report Agreed to by voice vote.
  5. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motions to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  6. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: On agreeing to the conference report Agreed to by voice vote.
  7. Resolving differencesResolving differences · The previous question was ordered without objection.
  8. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Sharp brought up conference report H.Rept. 101-100 for consideration as a privileged matter.
  9. FloorFloor · DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on the conference report.
  10. Jun 22, 1989Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report by Voice Vote.
  11. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report by Voice Vote.
  12. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report H. Rept. 101-100 filed.
  13. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report H. Rept. 101-100 filed.
  14. Jun 21, 1989Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference papers: Senate report and managers' statement held at the desk in Senate.
  15. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference papers: official papers held at the desk in Senate.
  16. Jun 20, 1989Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conferees agreed to file conference report.
  17. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference committee actions: Conferees agreed to file conference report.
  18. Jun 15, 1989Resolving differencesResolving differences · The chair appointed conferees: Dingell, Sharp, Tauzin, Lent, and Moorhead.
  19. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  20. Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House disagree to the Senate amendments, and agree to a conference Agreed to without objection.
  21. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Sharp asked unanimous consent that the House disagree to the Senate amendments, and agree to a conference.
  22. Jun 14, 1989Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate insists on its amendments, asks for a conference, appoints conferees Johnston; Bumpers; Ford; McClure; Domenici.
  23. FloorFloor · Passed Senate with amendments by Yea-Nay Vote. 82-17. Record Vote No: 91.Senate roll call 91
  24. FloorFloor · Motion to table SP 195 agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 55-44. Record Vote No: 90.Senate roll call 90
  25. Jun 13, 1989FloorFloor · Motion to table SP 194 agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 87-11. Record Vote No: 89.Senate roll call 89
  26. FloorFloor · Motion to table SP 193 agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 63-35. Record Vote No: 88.Senate roll call 88
  27. FloorFloor · Motion to table SP 192 agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 66-31. Record Vote No: 87.Senate roll call 87
  28. FloorFloor · Motion to table SP 191 agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 73-23. Record Vote No: 86.Senate roll call 86
  29. FloorFloor · Cloture motion withdrawn by unanimous consent in Senate.
  30. Jun 8, 1989FloorFloor · Motion to table SP 145 agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 53-43. Record Vote No: 85.Senate roll call 85
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.