National Sea Grant College Program Authorization Act of 1991
Public Law 102-186 · S. 1563 · 102nd Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Dec 4, 1991 · Science, Technology, Communications
Sponsor: Sen. John Kerry (D-MA)
Cosponsors (13): Sen. Claiborne Pell, Sen. Fritz Hollings,
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.
National Sea Grant College Program Authorization Act of 1991 - Amends the National Sea Grant College Program Act (Sea Grant Act) to require that the National Sea Grant College Program be administered by a National Sea Grant Office within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Requires that the Program Director oversee the Office. Empowers the Secretary of Commerce to accept funds from other Federal departments, agencies, and instrumentalities to pay for and add to (currently, to pay for) grants and contracts.
Authorizes appropriations to carry out specified provisions of the Sea Grant Act.
Repeals provisions of the Sea Grant Act authorizing grants and contracts for a sea grant strategic research plan. Amends the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 (Aquatic Nuisance Act) to generally authorize appropriations for grants under the Sea Grant Act. (Currently, the provisions of the Aquatic Nuisance Act being amended here authorize appropriations only for grants for the sea grant research plan under the Sea Grant Act.)
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee · House · referred toSubcommittee: Oceanography, Gulf of Mexico and the Outer Continental Shelf 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. 17 actions.
- Dec 4, 1991Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 102-186.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Nov 23, 1991PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Nov 19, 1991Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to the House amendment by Voice Vote.
- Nov 5, 1991FloorFloor · 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 · Mr. Hertel moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- Oct 10, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Oceanography, Gulf of Mexico and the Outer Continental Shelf Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Oct 7, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Oct 3, 1991FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
- Sep 23, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
- Jul 31, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
- Jul 30, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Jul 25, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 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.