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Omnibus Insular Areas Act of 1992

Public Law 102-247 · H.R. 2927 · 102nd Congress · began in the House

Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Feb 24, 1992 · Public Lands and Natural Resources

Sponsor: Rep. Ron de Lugo (D-VI)

Cosponsors (34): Rep. George Miller,

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.

Omnibus Insular Areas Act of 1992 - Title I: Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve at St. Croix, Virgin Islands - Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve at St. Croix, Virgin Islands, Act of 1991 - Establishes the Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve at St. Croix, Virgin Islands.

Declares that nothing in this Act shall be construed to prohibit the Virgin Islands government from acquiring lands or interests in land within the boundaries of the park.

Prohibits acquisition without owners' consent of lands or interests containing dwellings lying within the park boundary as of July 1, 1991, unless the Secretary determines that the land is being developed or proposed to be developed in a manner detrimental to specified values for which the park was established.

Authorizes the Secretary to enter into cooperative agreements with the Virgin Islands or local governments for the management of the park. Directs the Secretary, with public involvement, to develop and submit a general management plan for the park to specified congressional committees.

Directs the Secretary, subject to appropriations and for a ten-year period, to: (1) provide up to 50 percent of funds to train employees of the Virgin Island government directly engaged in the joint management of the park; and (2) implement a program under which Virgin Islands citizens may be trained in all phases of park operations and management.

Establishes the Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve at St. Croix, Virgin Islands, Commission. Terminates the Commission ten years after enactment of this Act, unless needed by the Secretary.

Authorizes appropriations.

Title II: Insular Areas Disaster Survival and Recovery - Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) reconstruct essential public facilities damaged by disasters in insular areas occurring before the enactment of this Act; and (2) enhance the survivability of essential public facilities in the event of disasters in insular areas.

Provides that in the case of Hurricane Hugo, September 1989, appropriations for any fiscal year shall not exceed 25 percent of the estimated aggregate amount of grants to be made for such disaster.

Requires the President to provide technical assistance to insular areas which lack specific capabilities in responding to disasters.

Directs the Secretary to report to specified congressional committees on the status of recovery efforts in insular areas declared to be disasters by the President.

Requires that the total contributions under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act for hazard mitigation in insular areas not exceed ten percent of the estimated aggregate amount of grants to be made under such Act for any disaster. Directs the President to require a 50 percent local match when making grants in excess of the ten percent ceiling.

Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to make the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands eligible for relief and assistance.

Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Directs the Secretary to: (1) study or review and update existing studies to determine the current and long-term water, power, and wastewater needs of American Samoa; and (2) report to specified congressional committees on the results.

Authorizes American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and the Virgin Islands to make purchases through the General Services Administration.

States that a Freely Associated State Air Carrier shall not be precluded from transportation of persons and property procured, contracted for, or otherwise obtained by a Federal agency or instrumentality under an agreement whereby the agency or instrumentality pays for such transportation without provisions for reimbursement.

Amends the Compact of Free Association Act of 1985 to extend the Marshall Islands agricultural and food assistance programs for an additional five years.

Amends Federal law to authorize the Northern Marianas College to receive the same $3,000,000 endowment authorized for land grant institutions in other insular areas.

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Data notes

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 23 actions.

  1. Feb 24, 1992Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 102-247.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Feb 12, 1992PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Feb 4, 1992Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  5. Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by voice vote.
  6. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. de Lugo moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment.
  7. Jan 31, 1992FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
  8. FloorFloor · Amendment SP 1523 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.
  9. Nov 26, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  10. Nov 20, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  11. Nov 7, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Referred to National Parks Subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  12. Nov 6, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  13. Nov 5, 1991FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  14. FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
  15. FloorFloor · Mr. Vento moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  16. CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
  17. Oct 16, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Natural Resources Committee
  18. Oct 10, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  19. CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  20. Sep 24, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  21. Jul 30, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  22. Jul 17, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources Committee
  23. 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.

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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.