Niobrara Scenic River Designation Act of 1991
Public Law 102-50 · S. 248 · 102nd Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on May 24, 1991 · Commemorations
Sponsor: Sen. James Exon (D-NE)
Cosponsors (1): Sen. Robert Kerrey
Passage votesYeaNay
- HouseRecorded vote: 333 yea, 71 nay333–71
- 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.
Niobrara Scenic River Designation Act of 1991 - Amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate certain segments of the Niobrara River, Nebraska, and the Missouri River, Nebraska and South Dakota, as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
Designates a certain segment of the Niobrara River, Nebraska, for study as a potential addition to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
Provides that such segment shall be designated as a component of the system if funds are not authorized and appropriated, within five years after enactment of this Act, for the construction of a water resources project on it.
Sets forth specified limitations on acquisition of land by the Secretary of the Interior within the segment, unless State or local governments are not adequately protecting the segments' wild and scenic values.
Establishes the Niobrara Scenic River Advisory Commission to advise the Secretary on the development of a management plan for, and operation matters of, the designated segment of the Niobrara River. Terminates such Commission ten years after enactment of this Act.
Authorizes the Secretary to establish a recreational river advisory group to advise on matters relating to the operation and management of the designated segment of the Missouri River.
Requires the Secretary to permit, subject to certain conditions, the use of erosion control techniques for streambank stabilization within the Missouri River segment.
Directs the Secretary, acting through the Director of the National Park Service, to conduct a feasibility study on the potential designation of certain lands adjacent to the Niobrara and Missouri Rivers and the Lewis and Clark Reservoir as a national recreation area. Requires the results of such study to be transmitted to specified congressional committees.
Requires the Secretary to study the feasibility of establishing the Niobrara-Buffalo Prairie National Park, Nebraska. Requires the results of such study to be submitted to the same congressional committees.
Authorizes appropriations.
Who voted for it
Every House member of the 102nd Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 333 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.
333 yea71 nay26 present or did not vote
Democrats who voted yea(242)
- Rep. Bill ClayD-MO-1
- Rep. Craig WashingtonD-TX-18
- Rep. Gus SavageD-IL-2
- Rep. Mervyn DymallyD-CA-31
- Rep. Charles HayesD-IL-1
Rep. John ConyersD-MI-1- Rep. Ronald DellumsD-CA-8
- Rep. Major OwensD-NY-12
- Rep. Theodore WeissD-NY-17
Rep. Donald PayneD-NJ-10- Rep. Louis StokesD-OH-21
Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-16
Rep. Ed TownsD-NY-11- Rep. Barbara-Rose CollinsD-MI-13
- Rep. Edward RoybalD-CA-25
Rep. John LewisD-GA-5- Rep. Sidney YatesD-IL-9
Rep. Neil AbercrombieD-HI-1- Rep. David BoniorD-MI-12
Rep. José SerranoD-NY-18
Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8- Rep. Alan WheatD-MO-5
- Rep. Thomas FogliettaD-PA-1
Rep. Nancy PelosiD-CA-5- Rep. Norman MinetaD-CA-13
- Rep. Don EdwardsD-CA-10
- Rep. Carl PerkinsD-KY-7
- Rep. Julian DixonD-CA-28
Rep. Jim McDermottD-WA-7- Rep. Michael KopetskiD-OR-5
- Rep. William FordD-MI-15
- Rep. Floyd FlakeD-NY-6
- Rep. Jolene UnsoeldD-WA-3
- Rep. Martin SaboD-MN-5
- Rep. Esteban TorresD-CA-34
- Rep. William CoyneD-PA-14
- Rep. Bruce VentoD-MN-4
- Rep. William GrayD-PA-2
- Rep. Dennis HertelD-MI-14
- Rep. Patsy MinkD-HI-2
Rep. Bernie SandersD-VT- Rep. Jerome TraxlerD-MI-8
Rep. Pete StarkD-CA-9- Rep. Victor FazioD-CA-4
Rep. Dale KildeeD-MI-7
Rep. Henry WaxmanD-CA-24- Rep. Howard WolpeD-MI-3
Rep. George MillerD-CA-7
Rep. Gary AckermanD-NY-7
Rep. William JeffersonD-LA-2- Rep. Dick GephardtD-MO-3
- Rep. Dante FascellD-FL-19
- Rep. Gerry StuddsD-MA-10
Rep. Kweisi MfumeD-MD-7- Rep. Mary OakarD-OH-20
- Rep. John MoakleyD-MA-9
Rep. Barney FrankD-MA-4
Rep. Howard BermanD-CA-26- Rep. Lane EvansD-IL-17
Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7- Rep. Neal SmithD-IA-4
- Rep. Lawrence SmithD-FL-16
Rep. John DingellD-MI-16- Rep. Thomas DowneyD-NY-2
Rep. Steny HoyerD-MD-5
Rep. Nita LoweyD-NY-20- Rep. Frank AnnunzioD-IL-11
- Rep. Sam GejdensonD-CT-2
Rep. Peter DeFazioD-OR-4- Rep. Thomas MantonD-NY-9
Rep. Richard NealD-MA-2- Rep. Francis McCloskeyD-IN-8
- Rep. Harold FordD-TN-9
- Rep. Jerry KleczkaD-WI-4
- Rep. Charles RoseD-NC-7
- Rep. Chester AtkinsD-MA-5
- Rep. George BrownD-CA-36
- Rep. Michael SynarD-OK-2
- Rep. Jack BrooksD-TX-9
- Rep. Joseph KennedyD-MA-8
- Rep. Robert BorskiD-PA-3
- Rep. David NagleD-IA-3
- Rep. Albert EspyD-MS-2
- Rep. John LaFalceD-NY-32
- Rep. Matthew McHughD-NY-28
- Rep. William NatcherD-KY-2
- Rep. Ronald ColemanD-TX-16
Rep. Eliot EngelD-NY-19
Rep. Benjamin CardinD-MD-3
Rep. Sander LevinD-MI-17- Rep. Thomas AndrewsD-ME-1
- Rep. Stephen SolarzD-NY-13
- Rep. Henry NowakD-NY-33
- Rep. Thomas SawyerD-OH-14
- Rep. Robert RoeD-NJ-8
- Rep. Robert WiseD-WV-3
- Rep. Les AuCoinD-OR-1
- Rep. Anthony BeilensonD-CA-23
- Rep. George HochbruecknerD-NY-1
Rep. Richard DurbinD-IL-20- Rep. Matthew MartínezD-CA-30
Rep. Chuck SchumerD-NY-10
Rep. Louise SlaughterD-NY-30- Rep. Bernard DwyerD-NJ-6
Rep. Michael McNultyD-NY-23- Rep. Nicholas MavroulesD-MA-6
- Rep. Daniel RostenkowskiD-IL-8
- Rep. Peter KostmayerD-PA-8
Rep. Rick BoucherD-VA-9- Rep. Barbara KennellyD-CT-1
Rep. Ron WydenD-OR-3- Rep. Ray ThorntonD-AR-2
- Rep. Edward FeighanD-OH-19
- Rep. James JontzD-IN-5
- Rep. David SkaggsD-CO-2
Rep. John MurthaD-PA-12- Rep. Walter JonesD-NC-1
Rep. Rosa DeLauroD-CT-3- Rep. Brian DonnellyD-MA-11
- Rep. Tom LantosD-CA-11
- Rep. John BryantD-TX-5
Rep. Peter ViscloskyD-IN-1- Rep. Jamie WhittenD-MS-1
- Rep. Glenn AndersonD-CA-32
Rep. Jack ReedD-RI-2- Rep. Kika de la GarzaD-TX-15
- Rep. Romano MazzoliD-KY-3
- Rep. Donald PeaseD-OH-13
- Rep. William RichardsonD-NM-3
Rep. Alan MollohanD-WV-1- Rep. John CoxD-IL-16
- Rep. Dennis EckartD-OH-11
Rep. David PriceD-NC-4- Rep. Harry JohnstonD-FL-14
- Rep. Martin RussoD-IL-3
- Rep. Gerald SikorskiD-MN-6
- Rep. Jim MoodyD-WI-5
Rep. Solomon OrtizD-TX-27
Rep. Nick RahallD-WV-4- Rep. Tony HallD-OH-3
Rep. Norm DicksD-WA-6- Rep. Joan HornD-MO-2
- Rep. Leon PanettaD-CA-16
- Rep. Joseph KolterD-PA-4
Rep. Paul KanjorskiD-PA-11- Rep. Leslie AspinD-WI-1
- Rep. Bill HefnerD-NC-8
- Rep. Patricia SchroederD-CO-1
Rep. Bart GordonD-TN-6- Rep. Robert TorricelliD-NJ-9
Rep. Jim MoranD-VA-8- Rep. Joseph GaydosD-PA-20
- Rep. Frank GuariniD-NJ-14
- Rep. James TraficantD-OH-17
- Rep. Peter HoaglandD-NE-2
- Rep. Harley StaggersD-WV-2
- Rep. Joseph EarlyD-MA-3
- Rep. Ben JonesD-GA-4
- Rep. Gus YatronD-PA-6
- Rep. Terry BruceD-IL-19
- Rep. Jill Long ThompsonD-IN-4
- Rep. Butler DerrickD-SC-3
- Rep. Tom BevillD-AL-4
- Rep. Pete PetersonD-FL-2
- Rep. George SangmeisterD-IL-4
- Rep. Sam GibbonsD-FL-7
- Rep. Larry LaRoccoD-ID-1
- Rep. Buddy DardenD-GA-7
Rep. John SprattD-SC-5- Rep. James BacchusD-FL-11
- Rep. Ed JenkinsD-GA-9
Rep. Collin PetersonD-MN-7- Rep. John WilliamsD-MT-1
Rep. Chet EdwardsD-TX-11- Rep. Douglas OwensD-UT-2
- Rep. Philip SharpD-IN-2
Rep. Jerry CostelloD-IL-21- Rep. William HughesD-NJ-2
- Rep. Cal DooleyD-CA-17
- Rep. James BilbrayD-NV-1
- Rep. Robert ClementD-TN-5
Rep. Tim JohnsonD-SD-1- Rep. Bob CarrD-MI-6
- Rep. Charles McMillenD-MD-4
- Rep. Glenn PoshardD-IL-22
Rep. Rob AndrewsD-NJ-1- Rep. John BrowderD-AL-3
- Rep. Charles WilsonD-TX-2
Rep. Frank PalloneD-NJ-3- Rep. William BrewsterD-OK-3
- Rep. William LipinskiD-IL-5
- Rep. Lee HamiltonD-IN-9
Rep. Byron DorganD-ND- Rep. Robin TallonD-SC-6
- Rep. Daniel GlickmanD-KS-4
- Rep. Michael AndrewsD-TX-25
- Rep. Robert ThomasD-GA-1
Rep. Bud CramerD-AL-5- Rep. Stephen NealD-NC-5
Rep. Jim CooperD-TN-4- Rep. Gregory LaughlinD-TX-14
- Rep. Harold VolkmerD-MO-9
- Rep. David McCurdyD-OK-4
- Rep. Richard SwettD-NH-2
- Rep. Martin LancasterD-NC-3
- Rep. James SlatteryD-KS-2
Rep. Thomas CarperD-DE- Rep. Ben CampbellD-CO-3
- Rep. Lewis PayneD-VA-5
- Rep. Owen PickettD-VA-2
Rep. John TannerD-TN-8- Rep. James RowlandD-GA-8
- Rep. Richard StallingsD-ID-2
- Rep. Claude HarrisD-AL-7
- Rep. Douglas ApplegateD-OH-18
- Rep. Andrew JacobsD-IN-10
- Rep. Charles LukenD-OH-1
- Rep. Norman SisiskyD-VA-4
- Rep. Timothy RoemerD-IN-3
- Rep. Austin MurphyD-PA-22
- Rep. Charles BennettD-FL-3
Rep. Ike SkeltonD-MO-4- Rep. William SarpaliusD-TX-13
- Rep. Marilyn LloydD-TN-3
- Rep. Elizabeth PattersonD-SC-4
- Rep. Timothy PennyD-MN-1
- Rep. Ben ErdreichD-AL-6
- Rep. Tim ValentineD-NC-2
- Rep. Glenn EnglishD-OK-6
- Rep. Beverly ByronD-MD-6
- Rep. Carroll HubbardD-KY-1
- Rep. Gary ConditD-CA-15
- Rep. James HayesD-LA-7
- Rep. Thomas HuckabyD-LA-5
- Rep. Druie BarnardD-GA-10
- Rep. William OrtonD-UT-3
- Rep. Sonny MontgomeryD-MS-3
- Rep. Mike ParkerD-MS-4
- Rep. Richard RayD-GA-3
- Rep. Billy TauzinD-LA-3
Rep. Gene TaylorD-MS-5- Rep. Earl HuttoD-FL-1
Republicans who voted yea(91)
- Rep. Bill GreenR-NY-15
- Rep. Constance MorellaR-MD-8
- Rep. Benjamin GilmanR-NY-22
- Rep. Sherry BoehlertR-NY-25
- Rep. Frank HortonR-NY-29
- Rep. Hamilton FishR-NY-21
- Rep. Ronald MachtleyR-RI-1
Rep. Olympia SnoweR-ME-2- Rep. Sidney MorrisonR-WA-4
- Rep. Matthew RinaldoR-NJ-7
- Rep. Raymond McGrathR-NY-5
- Rep. Nancy JohnsonR-CT-6
Rep. Christopher ShaysR-CT-4
Rep. Chris SmithR-NJ-4- Rep. Marge RoukemaR-NJ-5
- Rep. Jim LeachR-IA-1
- Rep. Arthur RavenelR-SC-1
- Rep. Joseph McDadeR-PA-10
- Rep. Amo HoughtonR-NY-34
Rep. Jim WalshR-NY-27- Rep. Steven GundersonR-WI-3
- Rep. Steven SchiffR-NM-1
Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16- Rep. Dean GalloR-NJ-11
- Rep. Scott KlugR-WI-2
- Rep. Robert CoughlinR-PA-13
- Rep. Joseph SkeenR-NM-2
- Rep. Carl PursellR-MI-2
- Rep. Susan MolinariR-NY-14
- Rep. John PorterR-IL-10
- Rep. Paul GillmorR-OH-5
Rep. Wayne GilchrestR-MD-1- Rep. William ClingerR-PA-23
- Rep. Jan MeyersR-KS-3
Rep. Ileana Ros-LehtinenR-FL-18- Rep. Donald RitterR-PA-15
- Rep. Norman LentR-NY-4
Rep. Jim SaxtonR-NJ-13- Rep. John MillerR-WA-1
- Rep. Doug BereuterR-NE-1
- Rep. Earl ColemanR-MO-6
- Rep. Curt WeldonR-PA-7
Rep. W. Bill YoungR-FL-8- Rep. William BroomfieldR-MI-18
- Rep. Willis GradisonR-OH-2
Rep. Fred UptonR-MI-4- Rep. Paul HenryR-MI-5
- Rep. Clay ShawR-FL-15
Rep. Jim RamstadR-MN-3- Rep. John KasichR-OH-12
- Rep. Chalmers WylieR-OH-15
Rep. Dave HobsonR-OH-7- Rep. Rodney ChandlerR-WA-8
Rep. Tom PetriR-WI-6
Rep. Frank WolfR-VA-10- Rep. Guy Vander JagtR-MI-9
- Rep. Floyd SpenceR-SC-2
Rep. Jerry LewisR-CA-35- Rep. Alex McMillanR-NC-9
- Rep. William LoweryR-CA-41
- Rep. Tom CampbellR-CA-12
- Rep. Jim KolbeR-AZ-5
Rep. Dave CampR-MI-10- Rep. Rick SantorumR-PA-18
- Rep. Richard ZimmerR-NJ-12
- Rep. Michael BilirakisR-FL-9
- Rep. Bill ThomasR-CA-20
- Rep. John WeberR-MN-2
- Rep. Bill McCollumR-FL-5
- Rep. Craig JamesR-FL-4
- Rep. Harris FawellR-IL-13
- Rep. Donald SundquistR-TN-7
Rep. Lamar SmithR-TX-21- Rep. William PaxonR-NY-31
- Rep. Tom BlileyR-VA-3
- Rep. Toby RothR-WI-8
- Rep. H. CallahanR-AL-1
- Rep. Newton GingrichR-GA-6
- Rep. Denny HastertR-IL-14
- Rep. Thomas LewisR-FL-12
- Rep. Porter GossR-FL-13
- Rep. Andy IrelandR-FL-10
- Rep. Duke CunninghamR-CA-44
- Rep. Larry CombestR-TX-19
- Rep. Christopher CoxR-CA-40
Rep. Cliff StearnsR-FL-6- Rep. Carlos MoorheadR-CA-22
Rep. Howard CobleR-NC-6
Rep. David DreierR-CA-33- Rep. Joel HefleyR-CO-5
Rep. James SensenbrennerR-WI-9
Data notes
The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 85 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Natural Resources Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Federal Lands Subcommittee- Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee · House · discharged from, referred toSubcommittee: Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation and the Environment Subcommittee
Energy and Natural Resources Committee · Senate · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: National Parks 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. 19 actions.
- May 24, 1991Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 102-50.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- May 16, 1991PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- May 14, 1991FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 333 - 71 (Roll No. 89).House roll call 89
- FloorFloor · Rule H. Res. 148 passed House.
- May 8, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- May 7, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation and the Environment Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Apr 24, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Natural Resources Committee
- Apr 23, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
- Apr 17, 1991FloorFloor · Passed Senate with amendments by Voice Vote.
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources Committee
- Mar 7, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
- Feb 27, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
- Jan 24, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Referred to National Parks Subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
- Jan 23, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Energy and Natural Resources 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.