To authorize appropriations for fiscal year 1990 for the Federal Maritime Commission.
Public Law 101-92 · H.R. 840 · 101st Congress · began in the House
Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Aug 16, 1989 · Transportation and Public Works
Sponsor: Rep. Walter Jones (D-NC-1)
Cosponsors (3): Rep. Robert Davis, Rep. Norman Lent,
Passage votes
- HouseUnanimous consent
- 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.
Authorizes appropriations for FY 1990 for the Federal Maritime Commission.
Directs the Commission to: (1) require that electronic copies of the Automated Tariff Filing and Information (ATFI) data base are made available in bulk in a timely and nondiscriminatory fashion; (2) assess fees for the service; (3) impose controls to limit remote access usage by any one person; and (4) allow information from the ATFI system to be used, resold, or disseminated without restriction and without payment of additional fees or royalties.
Amends the Intercoastal Shipping Act, 1933 to remove, for ships not carrying passengers, the requirement that terms and conditions of the transportation be framed under glass and posted on board the vessel.
Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to issue a certificate of documentation for the coastwise trade or fisheries, or both, to four named vessels.
Authorizes the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to issue, subject to certain conditions, a certificate of documentation for a named vessel to acquire, purchase, process, and transport fish and fish products in the fisheries of the United States.
Authorizes the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to issue a certificate of documentation for the coastwise trade to a named vessel.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Merchant Marine 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. 27 actions.
- Aug 16, 1989Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 101-92.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Aug 11, 1989PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Aug 5, 1989Resolving 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 without objection.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Tauzin asked unanimous consent that the House agree to the Senate amendments.
- Aug 4, 1989FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · Amendment SP 696 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · Amendment SP 695 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
- Jul 11, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Jun 20, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- May 1, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Apr 25, 1989FloorFloor · 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 · The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On ordering a second Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Lent demanded a second on the motion to suspend the rules.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Jones (NC) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Apr 18, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Apr 11, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Merchant Marine Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Merchant Marine Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Feb 9, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Merchant Marine Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Feb 7, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Merchant Marine Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Feb 6, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Referred to 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.