To amend the Stock Raising Homestead Act to resolve certain problems regarding subsurface estates, and for other purposes.
Public Law 103-23 · H.R. 239 · 103rd Congress · began in the House
Signed by Bill Clinton (D) on Apr 16, 1993 · Public Lands and Natural Resources
Sponsor: Rep. Richard Lehman (D-CA-19)
Cosponsors: None
Passage votesYeaNay
- HouseRecorded vote: 421 yea, 1 nay421–1
- 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.
(Sec. 1) Amends Federal law regarding stock-raising homesteads to require a written notice to the surface owner before a person may enter lands for exploration purposes or to locate a mining claim. Provides for an authorized exploration period during which exploring and locating a mining claim may be conducted with minimal surface disruption, but no road construction, use of explosives, mechanical earth moving equipment, or hazardous materials. Limits the total acreage that may be covered at any time by notices of intention to locate a claim.
Prohibits any mineral exploration or development activities without the surface owner's written consent unless the Secretary of the Interior (the Secretary) has authorized them according to prescribed guidelines which include posting a surety bond to insure: (1) completion of surface reclamation; (2) compensation to the surface owner for permanent damages to crops and tangible improvements; and (3) compensation for permanent loss of income by the surface owner from impaired land use.
Prohibits the Secretary from authorizing any mineral activities unless a plan of operations has been submitted meeting specified criteria, including: (1) minimization of damages to crops and tangible improvements of the surface owner, and of disruption to grazing or other land use by the surface owner; and (2) payment of a fee to the surface owner, equivalent to the loss of income to the ranch operation. Directs the Secretary to submit such plan of operations for the surface owner's comments and modifications before determining whether it complies with this Act.
Requires reclamation of land to return it, as contemporaneously as practicable with the conduct of mineral activities, to a condition capable of supporting the uses which it was capable of supporting before surface disturbance.
Authorizes any surface owner to request an inspection if such owner has reason to believe that he may be adversely affected due to any violation of an approved plan of operations. Authorizes a surface owner to bring an action in Federal district court for damages resulting from non-compliance with this Act.
Authorizes the Secretary, upon petition by the surface owner, to provide compensation for damages through payment of all or part of any bond or other financial guarantee required under this Act.
(Sec. 2) Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress within two years on the acquisition of mineral interests after enactment of this Act by foreign firms on lands subject to the 1916 Stock Raising Homestead Act.
Who voted for it
Every House member of the 103rd Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 421 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.
421 yea1 nay8 present or did not vote
Democrats who voted yea(252)
- Rep. Craig WashingtonD-TX-18
- Rep. Ronald DellumsD-CA-9
Rep. Mel WattD-NC-12
Rep. Maxine WatersD-CA-35- Rep. Barbara-Rose CollinsD-MI-15
- Rep. Sidney YatesD-IL-9
Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-15
Rep. Jerrold NadlerD-NY-8
Rep. Alcee HastingsD-FL-23- Rep. Cardiss CollinsD-IL-7
- Rep. Henry GonzálezD-TX-20
- Rep. Louis StokesD-OH-11
- Rep. Michael KopetskiD-OR-5
Rep. Donald PayneD-NJ-10
Rep. Ed TownsD-NY-10
Rep. Nancy PelosiD-CA-8
Rep. Pete StarkD-CA-13- Rep. Don EdwardsD-CA-16
- Rep. Patsy MinkD-HI-2
- Rep. Major OwensD-NY-11
Rep. Nydia VelázquezD-NY-12- Rep. Earl HilliardD-AL-7
- Rep. William CoyneD-PA-14
Rep. Bobby RushD-IL-1- Rep. Cynthia McKinneyD-GA-11
Rep. Xavier BecerraD-CA-30- Rep. Carrie MeekD-FL-17
Rep. Jim McDermottD-WA-7- Rep. Daniel HamburgD-CA-1
- Rep. David BoniorD-MI-10
Rep. John LewisD-GA-5
Rep. Barney FrankD-MA-4
Rep. José SerranoD-NY-16
Rep. Neil AbercrombieD-HI-1
Rep. Lucille Roybal-AllardD-CA-33- Rep. Thomas FogliettaD-PA-1
- Rep. Lucien BlackwellD-PA-2
Rep. John OlverD-MA-1- Rep. Allan SwiftD-WA-2
- Rep. William FordD-MI-13
Rep. Eliot EngelD-NY-17- Rep. Martin SaboD-MN-5
Rep. Eddie JohnsonD-TX-30
Rep. Bobby ScottD-VA-3- Rep. Floyd FlakeD-NY-6
Rep. Bernie SandersD-VT
Rep. Henry WaxmanD-CA-29- Rep. Esteban TorresD-CA-34
Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8
Rep. Bob FilnerD-CA-50- Rep. Norman MinetaD-CA-15
Rep. Lynn WoolseyD-CA-6
Rep. Cleo FieldsD-LA-4- Rep. Julian DixonD-CA-32
- Rep. Eva ClaytonD-NC-1
- Rep. George BrownD-CA-42
- Rep. Mel ReynoldsD-IL-2
Rep. George MillerD-CA-7- Rep. Bruce VentoD-MN-4
- Rep. Lane EvansD-IL-17
Rep. William JeffersonD-LA-2
Rep. Ed MarkeyD-MA-7
Rep. Howard BermanD-CA-26- Rep. Michael SynarD-OK-2
Rep. Jim ClyburnD-SC-6- Rep. Gerry StuddsD-MA-10
- Rep. Robert MatsuiD-CA-5
Rep. Maurice HincheyD-NY-26
Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7- Rep. Dick GephardtD-MO-3
- Rep. Sam GejdensonD-CT-2
Rep. John DingellD-MI-16
Rep. Corrine BrownD-FL-3- Rep. John MoakleyD-MA-9
Rep. Kweisi MfumeD-MD-7
Rep. Luis GutiérrezD-IL-4- Rep. Albert WynnD-MD-4
- Rep. Jack BrooksD-TX-9
- Rep. Alan WheatD-MO-5
- Rep. Victor FazioD-CA-3
- Rep. Walter TuckerD-CA-37
Rep. Ed PastorD-AZ-2
Rep. Alan MollohanD-WV-1- Rep. William NatcherD-KY-2
- Rep. Elizabeth FurseD-OR-1
- Rep. Anthony BeilensonD-CA-24
Rep. Anna EshooD-CA-14- Rep. Joseph KennedyD-MA-8
- Rep. Thomas AndrewsD-ME-1
Rep. Gary AckermanD-NY-5- Rep. Ronald ColemanD-TX-16
- Rep. Daniel RostenkowskiD-IL-5
- Rep. Bill ClayD-MO-1
Rep. Nita LoweyD-NY-18- Rep. Harry JohnstonD-FL-19
- Rep. Thomas SawyerD-OH-14
Rep. Peter ViscloskyD-IN-1- Rep. David SkaggsD-CO-2
Rep. Steny HoyerD-MD-5
Rep. Jack ReedD-RI-2
Rep. Sanford BishopD-GA-2
Rep. Louise SlaughterD-NY-28
Rep. Richard NealD-MA-2
Rep. John MurthaD-PA-12- Rep. Francis McCloskeyD-IN-8
- Rep. Charles RoseD-NC-7
- Rep. Neal SmithD-IA-4
Rep. Rick BoucherD-VA-9
Rep. Rosa DeLauroD-CT-3
Rep. Richard DurbinD-IL-20
Rep. Chuck SchumerD-NY-9- Rep. Barbara KennellyD-CT-1
- Rep. Thomas MantonD-NY-7
Rep. Carolyn MaloneyD-NY-14- Rep. George HochbruecknerD-NY-1
- Rep. Robert BorskiD-PA-3
- Rep. Sam GibbonsD-FL-11
Rep. Benjamin CardinD-MD-3
Rep. Jim MoranD-VA-8
Rep. Ron WydenD-OR-3
Rep. Dale KildeeD-MI-9- Rep. Matthew MartínezD-CA-31
- Rep. Jamie WhittenD-MS-1
- Rep. William RichardsonD-NM-3
- Rep. John BryantD-TX-5
Rep. Sander LevinD-MI-12- Rep. Tom LantosD-CA-12
Rep. Paul KanjorskiD-PA-11
Rep. Gene GreenD-TX-29- Rep. Robert WiseD-WV-2
Rep. Norm DicksD-WA-6- Rep. Ray ThorntonD-AR-2
- Rep. Bill HefnerD-NC-8
Rep. Bob MenendezD-NJ-13
Rep. David PriceD-NC-4- Rep. Ted StricklandD-OH-6
- Rep. John LaFalceD-NY-29
- Rep. Thomas BarlowD-KY-1
Rep. Sherrod BrownD-OH-13
Rep. Peter DeFazioD-OR-4- Rep. Karan EnglishD-AZ-6
- Rep. Butler DerrickD-SC-3
- Rep. Mike KreidlerD-WA-9
- Rep. Jerry KleczkaD-WI-4
- Rep. Marty MeehanD-MA-5
- Rep. Thomas BarrettD-WI-5
- Rep. Philip SharpD-IN-2
- Rep. Tony HallD-OH-3
- Rep. Herbert KleinD-NJ-8
- Rep. Robert TorricelliD-NJ-9
- Rep. Martin FrostD-TX-24
- Rep. Jake PickleD-TX-10
Rep. Michael McNultyD-NY-21- Rep. Bob CarrD-MI-8
- Rep. Peter DeutschD-FL-20
- Rep. Frank TejedaD-TX-28
- Rep. Pete PetersonD-FL-2
- Rep. Ron KlinkD-PA-4
- Rep. William HughesD-NJ-2
Rep. Nick RahallD-WV-3- Rep. Buddy DardenD-GA-7
Rep. Bart StupakD-MI-1- Rep. Leslie ByrneD-VA-11
Rep. Solomon OrtizD-TX-27- Rep. Kika de la GarzaD-TX-15
- Rep. Lynn SchenkD-CA-49
- Rep. Tom BevillD-AL-4
- Rep. James BacchusD-FL-15
- Rep. Larry LaRoccoD-ID-1
- Rep. Patricia SchroederD-CO-1
Rep. Maria CantwellD-WA-1
Rep. Frank PalloneD-NJ-6- Rep. George SangmeisterD-IL-11
- Rep. John WilliamsD-MT-1
- Rep. Karen ShepherdD-UT-2
Rep. Marcy KapturD-OH-9
Rep. Jane HarmanD-CA-36- Rep. Samuel CoppersmithD-AZ-1
- Rep. Charles WilsonD-TX-2
Rep. John SprattD-SC-5- Rep. Jill Long ThompsonD-IN-4
- Rep. Karen ThurmanD-FL-5
- Rep. Marjorie Margolies-MezvinskyD-PA-13
- Rep. Pat DannerD-MO-6
Rep. Earl PomeroyD-ND- Rep. David MannD-OH-1
Rep. Bart GordonD-TN-6
Rep. Jay InsleeD-WA-4- Rep. Stephen NealD-NC-5
Rep. Tim JohnsonD-SD- Rep. Paul McHaleD-PA-15
- Rep. Romano MazzoliD-KY-3
- Rep. Peter HoaglandD-NE-2
Rep. Bud CramerD-AL-5- Rep. Daniel GlickmanD-KS-4
- Rep. Jim ChapmanD-TX-1
- Rep. Harold VolkmerD-MO-9
- Rep. Eric FingerhutD-OH-19
- Rep. James BilbrayD-NV-1
- Rep. Robert ClementD-TN-5
- Rep. Cal DooleyD-CA-20
- Rep. Douglas ApplegateD-OH-18
- Rep. Scotty BaeslerD-KY-6
- Rep. James TraficantD-OH-17
- Rep. Richard LehmanD-CA-19
- Rep. Timothy RoemerD-IN-3
Rep. Blanche LincolnD-AR-1- Rep. John BrowderD-AL-3
Rep. Tim HoldenD-PA-6- Rep. Don JohnsonD-GA-10
Rep. Jerry CostelloD-IL-12- Rep. Gregory LaughlinD-TX-14
- Rep. Lewis PayneD-VA-5
- Rep. Richard SwettD-NH-2
Rep. Chet EdwardsD-TX-11- Rep. Michael AndrewsD-TX-25
- Rep. Martin LancasterD-NC-3
- Rep. Lee HamiltonD-IN-9
Rep. Rob AndrewsD-NJ-1- Rep. Sonny MontgomeryD-MS-3
- Rep. William LipinskiD-IL-3
- Rep. James SlatteryD-KS-2
- Rep. Marilyn LloydD-TN-3
- Rep. Owen PickettD-VA-2
- Rep. James BarciaD-MI-5
- Rep. William BrewsterD-OK-3
- Rep. David MingeD-MN-2
Rep. Ike SkeltonD-MO-4- Rep. Tim ValentineD-NC-2
- Rep. David McCurdyD-OK-4
- Rep. James RowlandD-GA-8
- Rep. Norman SisiskyD-VA-4
- Rep. William SarpaliusD-TX-13
Rep. John TannerD-TN-8- Rep. Glenn EnglishD-OK-6
- Rep. Glenn PoshardD-IL-19
- Rep. Andrew JacobsD-IN-10
- Rep. Austin MurphyD-PA-20
- Rep. James HayesD-LA-7
Rep. Jim CooperD-TN-4
Rep. Collin PetersonD-MN-7- Rep. Pete GerenD-TX-12
Rep. Nathan DealD-GA-9- Rep. Mike ParkerD-MS-4
- Rep. Gary ConditD-CA-18
- Rep. Timothy PennyD-MN-1
- Rep. William OrtonD-UT-3
- Rep. Earl HuttoD-FL-1
- Rep. Billy TauzinD-LA-3
- Rep. Charlie StenholmD-TX-17
Rep. Ralph HallD-TX-4
Rep. Gene TaylorD-MS-5
Republicans who voted yea(169)
- Rep. Constance MorellaR-MD-8
- Rep. Benjamin GilmanR-NY-20
- Rep. Sherry BoehlertR-NY-23
- Rep. Hamilton FishR-NY-19
Rep. Christopher ShaysR-CT-4- Rep. Nancy JohnsonR-CT-6
Rep. Olympia SnoweR-ME-2- Rep. Amo HoughtonR-NY-31
- Rep. Ronald MachtleyR-RI-1
Rep. Chris SmithR-NJ-4- Rep. Stephen HornR-CA-38
- Rep. Jim LeachR-IA-1
- Rep. Marge RoukemaR-NJ-5
- Rep. Dean GalloR-NJ-11
- Rep. Arthur RavenelR-SC-1
- Rep. Paul GillmorR-OH-5
Rep. Lincoln Diaz-BalartR-FL-21- Rep. Peter TorkildsenR-MA-6
- Rep. Steven GundersonR-WI-3
- Rep. William ClingerR-PA-5
Rep. Wayne GilchrestR-MD-1- Rep. Peter BluteR-MA-3
- Rep. Herbert BatemanR-VA-1
- Rep. Jim GreenwoodR-PA-8
- Rep. John PorterR-IL-10
- Rep. Thomas RidgeR-PA-21
Rep. Ileana Ros-LehtinenR-FL-18- Rep. Jan MeyersR-KS-3
Rep. Jim WalshR-NY-25
Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16- Rep. Rick LazioR-NY-2
- Rep. Doug BereuterR-NE-1
- Rep. Gary FranksR-CT-5
- Rep. Steven SchiffR-NM-1
Rep. Michael CastleR-DE
Rep. Jim SaxtonR-NJ-3- Rep. Jack QuinnR-NY-30
- Rep. Bob FranksR-NJ-7
- Rep. Curt WeldonR-PA-7
- Rep. Rick SantorumR-PA-18
- Rep. Helen BentleyR-MD-2
- Rep. Frederick GrandyR-IA-5
Rep. Dave HobsonR-OH-7
Rep. Don YoungR-AK- Rep. Susan MolinariR-NY-13
- Rep. Alex McMillanR-NC-9
Rep. Hal RogersR-KY-5
Rep. Fred UptonR-MI-6- Rep. John KasichR-OH-12
Rep. Jerry LewisR-CA-40- Rep. John MyersR-IN-7
- Rep. Joseph SkeenR-NM-2
- Rep. Scott KlugR-WI-2
- Rep. Henry HydeR-IL-6
Rep. Jim McCreryR-LA-5- Rep. Scott McInnisR-CO-3
- Rep. Tillie FowlerR-FL-4
- Rep. Jim KolbeR-AZ-5
- Rep. Clay ShawR-FL-22
Rep. Deborah PryceR-OH-15
Rep. Frank WolfR-VA-10- Rep. Bill ThomasR-CA-21
Rep. W. Bill YoungR-FL-10- Rep. Richard ZimmerR-NJ-12
- Rep. Martin HokeR-OH-10
- Rep. Michael BilirakisR-FL-9
- Rep. Donald SundquistR-TN-7
- Rep. Michael HuffingtonR-CA-22
Rep. Ken CalvertR-CA-43- Rep. David LevyR-NY-4
- Rep. Robert LivingstonR-LA-1
- Rep. William GoodlingR-PA-19
- Rep. Bill EmersonR-MO-8
Rep. Jim RamstadR-MN-3- Rep. Floyd SpenceR-SC-2
- Rep. Robert MichelR-IL-18
Rep. Dave CampR-MI-4- Rep. James LightfootR-IA-3
- Rep. Michael OxleyR-OH-4
- Rep. Barbara VucanovichR-NV-2
Rep. John McHughR-NY-24- Rep. Jay DickeyR-AR-4
Rep. Elton GalleglyR-CA-23- Rep. Jennifer DunnR-WA-8
Rep. Pete KingR-NY-3- Rep. Tom BlileyR-VA-7
- Rep. Bill McCollumR-FL-8
Rep. Terry EverettR-AL-2- Rep. Harris FawellR-IL-13
- Rep. Jim TalentR-MO-2
- Rep. Denny HastertR-IL-14
- Rep. Charles CanadyR-FL-12
- Rep. Bill BarrettR-NE-3
- Rep. Newton GingrichR-GA-6
- Rep. Thomas EwingR-IL-15
- Rep. Alfred McCandlessR-CA-44
- Rep. Craig ThomasR-WY
- Rep. Tim HutchinsonR-AR-3
Rep. Bob GoodlatteR-VA-6- Rep. Duke CunninghamR-CA-51
- Rep. Jay KimR-CA-41
- Rep. Henry BonillaR-TX-23
Rep. Lamar SmithR-TX-21
Rep. Pete HoekstraR-MI-2- Rep. Dan MillerR-FL-13
Rep. Jack KingstonR-GA-1
Rep. Tom PetriR-WI-6- Rep. Toby RothR-WI-8
Rep. Steve BuyerR-IN-5
Rep. Buck McKeonR-CA-25- Rep. George GekasR-PA-17
- Rep. Porter GossR-FL-14
- Rep. Ron PackardR-CA-48
- Rep. Ernest IstookR-OK-5
- Rep. Richard PomboR-CA-11
- Rep. Thomas LewisR-FL-16
- Rep. Nick SmithR-MI-7
- Rep. William ZeliffR-NH-1
- Rep. Robert SmithR-OR-2
- Rep. Richard BakerR-LA-6
- Rep. James HansenR-UT-1
Rep. Bob InglisR-SC-4- Rep. Jim NussleR-IA-2
- Rep. Bud ShusterR-PA-9
Rep. Jon KylR-AZ-4- Rep. H. CallahanR-AL-1
Rep. Mac CollinsR-GA-3
Rep. John LinderR-GA-4- Rep. Larry CombestR-TX-19
Rep. Spencer BachusR-AL-6
Rep. John MicaR-FL-7
Rep. Donald ManzulloR-IL-16
Rep. Pat RobertsR-KS-1
Rep. Cliff StearnsR-FL-6- Rep. Carlos MoorheadR-CA-27
Rep. Joe KnollenbergR-MI-11- Rep. William BakerR-CA-10
- Rep. Dan SchaeferR-CO-6
Rep. Jim InhofeR-OK-1- Rep. Charles TaylorR-NC-11
Rep. Jim BunningR-KY-4- Rep. Rod GramsR-MN-6
Rep. Mike CrapoR-ID-2- Rep. Cass BallengerR-NC-10
- Rep. Christopher CoxR-CA-47
- Rep. Gerald SolomonR-NY-22
- Rep. Joel HefleyR-CO-5
Rep. Wally HergerR-CA-2
Rep. Duncan HunterR-CA-52
Rep. Roscoe BartlettR-MD-6
Rep. John BoehnerR-OH-8
Rep. David DreierR-CA-28
Rep. Jimmy DuncanR-TN-2- Rep. Robert DornanR-CA-46
Rep. Howard CobleR-NC-6- Rep. William PaxonR-NY-27
- Rep. Bill ArcherR-TX-7
Rep. John DoolittleR-CA-4
Rep. Wayne AllardR-CO-4- Rep. Robert WalkerR-PA-16
Rep. Sam JohnsonR-TX-3
Rep. Dan BurtonR-IN-6
Rep. Ed RoyceR-CA-39
Rep. Dana RohrabacherR-CA-45- Rep. Tom DeLayR-TX-22
- Rep. Richard ArmeyR-TX-26
- Rep. Phil CraneR-IL-8
- Rep. Robert StumpR-AZ-3
- Rep. Mel HancockR-MO-7
Data notes
The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 114 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: Energy and Mineral Resources 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. 16 actions.
- Apr 16, 1993Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 103-23.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Apr 5, 1993PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Apr 1, 1993FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
- Mar 30, 1993FloorFloor · 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 the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 421 - 1 (Roll no. 118).House roll call 118
- Mar 29, 1993FloorFloor · At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 5, rule I, the chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed until March 30.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Lehman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
- CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
- Mar 17, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Natural Resources Committee
- Mar 4, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
- Feb 24, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
- Jan 26, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
- Jan 5, 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.