Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and Protection Act
Public Law 101-605 · H.R. 5909 · 101st Congress · began in the House
Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Nov 16, 1990 · Environmental Protection
Sponsor: Rep. Dante Fascell (D-FL-19)
Cosponsors (1): Rep. Walter Jones
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.
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and Protection Act - Designates a specified area in Florida as the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary under the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972.
Prohibits, with specified exceptions, the operation of a tank vessel or a vessel greater than 50 meters in length in a certain Area to Be Avoided (ATBA).
Provides that no leasing, exploration, development, or production of minerals or hydrocarbons shall be permitted within the Sanctuary.
Requires the Secretary to develop a comprehensive management plan and implementing regulations.
Terminates, upon the enactment of this Act, all congressionally mandated studies of existing areas in the Florida Keys for designation as National Marine Sanctuaries.
Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Governor of Florida to develop a comprehensive water quality protection program for the Sanctuary. Excludes such program from the comprehensive management plan if it does not meet the purpose for which the Sanctuary is designated or is otherwise inconsistent or incompatible with it.
Requires the Secretary to establish an Advisory Council to assist with the comprehensive management plan.
Amends the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 to authorize appropriations.
Directs the Secretary to report to specified congressional committees on the future requirements for funding the Sanctuary.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee · House · referred toSubcommittee: Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation and the Environment Subcommittee; Oceanography Subcommittee
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. 13 actions.
- Nov 16, 1990Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 101-605.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Nov 9, 1990PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Oct 27, 1990FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
- Oct 26, 1990FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
- FloorFloor · On ordering a second Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Goss demanded a second on the motion to suspend the rules.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Hertel moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
- Oct 24, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation and the Environment Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Oceanography Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries 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.