Non-Vessel-Operating Common Carrier Act of 1991
Public Law 102-251 · H.R. 3866 · 102nd Congress · began in the House
Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Mar 9, 1992 · Environmental Protection
Sponsor: Rep. Solomon Ortiz (D-TX-27)
Cosponsors (2): Rep. Walter Jones, Rep. Gerry Studds
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.
Title I: National Marine Sanctuary - Requires publication in the Federal Register of a notice of designation of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary.
Title II: Merchant Marine Provisions - Non-Vessel-Operating Common Carrier Act of 1991 - Amends the Shipping Act of 1984 to require each non-vessel-operating common carrier to furnish a bond, insurance, or other security (currently, a bond) to insure financial responsibility. Makes the surety available to pay judgments for damages from transportation-related activities under the Act (currently, from transportation-related activities).
Amends Federal law (commonly referred to as the Johnson Act) to modify the circumstances under which a gambling device may be repaired, transported, possessed, or used on a vessel.
Title III: Implementation of Maritime Boundary Agreement - Amends the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act to add to the coverage of the Act special areas referred to in certain provisions of a specified agreement between the United States and the Soviet Union regarding the Maritime Boundary. Authorizes negotiations with the Soviet Union on a fishery agreement containing certain elements.
Amends the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982, the Fur Seal Act of 1966, the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, the Pacific Salmon Treaty Act of 1985, the National Sea Grant College Program Act, and the Sea Grant Program Improvement Act of 1976 to add references to the special areas. Requires the special areas to be considered places subject to U.S. jurisdiction for purposes of the Endangered Species Act of 1973.
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, 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. 18 actions.
- Mar 9, 1992Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 102-251.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Feb 26, 1992PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Jan 28, 1992Resolving 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 amendment Agreed to by voice vote.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Jones (NC) moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment.
- Nov 27, 1991FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · The substitute as amended agreed to by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · Amendment SP 1457 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · Amendment SP 1458 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
- Nov 23, 1991FloorFloor · 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 · Mr. Jones (NC) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation and the Environment Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Oceanography, Gulf of Mexico and the Outer Continental Shelf Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Nov 22, 1991CommitteeCommittee · 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.