Lechuguilla Cave Protection Act of 1993
Public Law 103-169 · H.R. 698 · 103rd Congress · began in the House
Signed by Bill Clinton (D) on Dec 2, 1993 · Public Lands and Natural Resources
Sponsor: Rep. Bruce Vento (D-MN-4)
Cosponsors: None
Passage votes
- HouseUnanimous consent
- 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.
Lechuguilla Cave Protection Act of 1993 - Withdraws all Federal lands within the boundaries of the Lechuguilla Cave Protection Area, New Mexico, from all forms of entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws, from location, entry, and patent under U.S. mining laws, and from disposition under all mineral and geothermal leasing laws.
Prohibits the Secretary of the Interior from permitting any new drilling within the Protection Area until the earlier of the effective date of the Record of Decision for the Dark Canyon Environmental Impact Statement or 12 months after enactment of this Act.
Authorizes the Secretary to cancel any Federal mineral or geothermal lease in the Protection Area or to enter into negotiations with the holder of the lease to determine appropriate compensation, for the complete or partial termination of such lease.
Authorizes the Secretary to limit or prohibit access to or across Federal lands or prohibit the removal of any mineral, geological, or cave resources from such lands in order to protect Lechuguilla Cave or Federal lands within the Protection Area. Provides that access to private lands within the Protection Area shall not be affected by this Act.
Authorizes appropriations.
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
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. 24 actions.
- Dec 2, 1993Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 103-169.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Nov 23, 1993PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Nov 21, 1993Resolving 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 without objection.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Vento asked unanimous consent that the House agree to the Senate amendment.
- Nov 19, 1993FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · The committee substitute agreed to by Voice Vote.
- Nov 17, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
- Oct 27, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
- Jun 16, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by National Parks Subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
- May 14, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Referred to National Parks Subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
- May 13, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
- May 11, 1993FloorFloor · 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. Vento moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
- May 5, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Natural Resources Committee
- Mar 18, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
- Mar 2, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
- Feb 18, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
- Jan 27, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources 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.