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A bill to increase the authorized acreage limit for the Assateague Island National Seashore on the Maryland mainland, and for other purposes.

Public Law 102-320 · S. 1254 · 102nd Congress · began in the Senate

Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Jul 10, 1992 · Public Lands and Natural Resources

Sponsor: Sen. Paul Sarbanes (D-MD)

Cosponsors (1): Sen. Barbara Mikulski

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.

Amends Federal law to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to increase the acreage limit on land acquisition from 16 to a maximum of 112 acres on the Maryland mainland for the Assateague National Seashore in Maryland and Virginia.

Repeals provisions that limit the acreage of Federal property on the Maryland mainland that may be transferred from a Federal agency to the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary.

Authorizes the Secretary to accept the donation of a scenic easement covering a specified parcel of land adjacent to the seashore.

Repeals provisions that limit the acreage of non-Federal property on the Maryland mainland that may be accepted by the Secretary for the seashore in exchange for Federal property in Maryland or Virginia.

Directs the Secretary to enter into cooperative agreements with local, State, and Federal agencies, educational institutions, and nonprofit entities to coordinate research designed to maximize protection for the seashore's natural and cultural resources and to implement recommendations arising from it. Authorizes the Secretary to provide technical assistance to such institutions and entities for such purposes. Requires the Secretary to report biennially to the Congress on the results of such research and plans to implement recommendations resulting from it.

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.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 24 actions.

  1. Jul 10, 1992Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 102-320.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Jul 2, 1992PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Jun 29, 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 to the House amendment Agreed to by voice vote.
  6. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Vento moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment to the House amendment.
  7. Apr 9, 1992Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate concurred in the House amendment with an amendment (SP 1774) by Voice Vote.
  8. Mar 24, 1992FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  9. FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
  10. FloorFloor · Mr. Vento moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  11. CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
  12. Mar 11, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Natural Resources Committee
  13. Mar 5, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  14. CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  15. Feb 18, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  16. Nov 7, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  17. Oct 17, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources Committee
  18. Oct 16, 1991FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
  19. Oct 8, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  20. Sep 25, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  21. Jul 25, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by National Parks Subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  22. Jun 12, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Referred to National Parks Subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  23. Jun 11, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  24. 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.

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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.