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Rio Grande Designation Act of 1994

Public Law 103-242 · S. 375 · 103rd Congress · began in the Senate

Signed by Bill Clinton (D) on May 4, 1994 · Commemorations

Sponsor: Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)

Cosponsors (1): Sen. Pete Domenici

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.

Rio Grande Designation Act of 1994 - Amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate one segment of the Rio Grande, New Mexico, as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System and another for potential addition to the System. Requires the study of the latter segment to be completed within three years after enactment of this Act.

Directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Land Management, to: (1) take appropriate steps to obtain the views of the residents of the village of Pilar and of owners of property adjoining the segments described in this Act; and (2) assure that those views will be considered in connection with preparation of a comprehensive management plan for and study of such segments.

Withdraws the Orilla Verde Recreation Area, New Mexico, from U.S. public land, mining, mineral, and geothermal leasing laws.

Authorizes the Secretary to contract with the Smithsonian Institution for the completion of the prehistoric trackways study in New Mexico as required under current law.

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. 20 actions.

  1. May 4, 1994Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 103-242.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Apr 22, 1994PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Apr 19, 1994Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to the House amendment by Voice Vote.
  5. Mar 15, 1994FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  6. FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
  7. FloorFloor · Mr. Vento moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  8. Mar 11, 1994CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
  9. Mar 2, 1994CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Natural Resources Committee
  10. Feb 10, 1994CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  11. CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  12. Oct 28, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  13. Apr 13, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  14. Mar 18, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources Committee
  15. Mar 17, 1993FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
  16. Mar 12, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  17. Mar 3, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  18. Feb 17, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Referred to National Parks Subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  19. Feb 16, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  20. 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.