Independent Safety Board Act Amendments of 1990
Public Law 101-641 · S. 3012 · 101st Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Nov 28, 1990 · Transportation and Public Works
Sponsor: Sen. Fritz Hollings (D-SC)
Cosponsors: None
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.
Independent Safety Board Act Amendments of 1990 - Amends the Independent Safety Board Act of 1974 to authorize appropriations for FY 1991 through 1993.
Authorizes employees of the National Transportation Safety Board to examine vessels with respect to accidents investigated by the Board. Declares that the Board shall have sole authority to determine the manner in which postaccident or reasonable suspicion toxicological testing will be conducted under this Act and the Federal Aviation Act of 1958.
Requires the Board to maintain the confidentiality of cockpit voice recordings and transcriptions, except under certain conditions. Provides for the use of such recordings and transcriptions in judicial proceedings.
Requires a specimen to be collected within four hours after an accident or incident, or as soon as otherwise practicable, whenever the Department of Transportation conducts a postaccident or postincident toxicological testing of a Department employee. Requires each Department agency head to report to the Office of the Secretary of Transportation on the length of time required to complete specimen collection related to a toxicological test.
Authorizes the Board to obtain from the Secretary laboratory records of positive toxicological test of any employee reasonably associated with an accident or incident. Requires the Board to maintain the confidentiality of such records.
Amends the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act with respect to certain odometer mileage disclosure requirements about the power of attorney used in the transfer of ownership of a motor vehicle where its title is physically held by a lienholder.
Requires the Secretary of Transportation to study and report to the Congress on the transportation of low-level radioactive waste.
Amends the Rail Passenger Service Act to authorize the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) to convey to third parties any property acquired by it with respect to the provision of intercity rail passenger service, if such conveyance would further the Act's purposes.
Prohibits Amtrak from discontinuing commuter rail service between Valparaiso, Indiana, and Chicago, Illinois, before May 6, 1991.
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. 12 actions.
- Nov 28, 1990Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 101-641.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Nov 19, 1990PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Oct 28, 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. Hammerschmidt demanded a second on the motion to suspend the rules.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Anderson moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- Oct 27, 1990FloorFloor · Passed Senate with amendments by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
- Aug 30, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Reported original measure by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- 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.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.