Watermelon Research and Promotion Improvement Act of 1993
Public Law 103-189 · S. 778 · 103rd Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Bill Clinton (D) on Dec 14, 1993 · Agriculture and Food
Sponsor: Sen. David Boren (D-OK)
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.
Watermelon Research and Promotion Improvement Act of 1993 - Amends the Watermelon Research and Promotion Act to require plan approval by a majority of the producers, handlers, and eligible importers voting in a referendum.
(Sec. 3) Extends the provisions of such Act to each of the States and the District of Columbia.
(Sec. 4) Sets forth purchase or volume conditions under which a producer shall be considered a handler for purposes of National Watermelon Promotion Board (Board) membership.
(Sec. 5) Amends provisions regarding: (1) assessment collections; and (2) rulemaking requirements and assessment rate changes.
(Sec. 7) Authorizes the revocation of the watermelon assessment refund. Stipulates that persons who import less than 150,000 pounds of watermelons per year may apply for a refund based upon the domestic assessment rate.
(Sec. 8) Includes imported watermelons in the definition of "watermelon." Subjects watermelon importers to the terms of such Act. Provides for importer membership on the Board.
(Sec. 9) Redefines "producer" to mean any person growing ten or more (currently five or more) acres of watermelons.
Authorizes the Board to establish producer certification rules.
(Sec. 10) Revises plan amendment provisions to require: (1) publication of proposed amendments and a referendum; and (2) separate line item voting and approval of specified amendments.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee · Senate · discharged from, referred toSubcommittee: Marketing, Inspection, and Product Promotion 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. 13 actions.
- Dec 14, 1993Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 103-189.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Dec 8, 1993PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Nov 21, 1993FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On passage Passed without objection.
- FloorFloor · Mr. de la Garza asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table and consider.
- FloorFloor · Considered by unanimous consent.
- CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee
- Nov 20, 1993FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · The committee substitute as amended agreed to by Voice Vote.
- Apr 12, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Marketing, Inspection, and Product Promotion Subcommittee of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee
- Apr 7, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry 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.