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To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to negotiate agreements for the use of Outer Continental Shelf sand, gravel, and shell resources.

Public Law 103-426 · H.R. 3678 · 103rd Congress · began in the House

Signed by Bill Clinton (D) on Oct 31, 1994 · Public Lands and Natural Resources

Sponsor: Rep. Solomon Ortiz (D-TX-27)

Cosponsors (5): Rep. Curt Weldon,

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.

Amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to negotiate an agreement (such agreement) for use of Outer Continental Shelf sand, gravel, and shell resources in: (1) a program of, or project for, shore protection, beach restoration, or coastal wetlands restoration undertaken by a Federal, State, or local government agency; or (2) a construction project that is funded in whole or in part by or authorized by the Federal Government.

Authorizes the Secretary: (1) to assess a fee based on the value of the resources and the public interest served by promoting development of the resources (but prohibits assessing any fee against a Federal agency); and (2) to seek to facilitate projects in the coastal zone that promote the policy set forth in the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972.

Requires: (1) any Federal agency which proposes to make use of sand, gravel, and shell resources subject to the provisions of this Act to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with the Secretary concerning the potential use of those resources; and (2) the Secretary to notify specified congressional committees on any proposed project for the use of those resources prior to such use.

Directs the Secretary to conduct a study of any area or region included in any lease sale in order to establish information needed for assessment and management of environmental impacts on the human, marine, and coastal environments of the Outer Continental Shelf and the coastal areas which may be affected by mineral development in such area or region. Directs that, in the case of such agreement, each study pertaining to the agreement under this Act be commenced not later than six months prior to commencing negotiations for such agreement or entering into the Memorandum of Agreement.

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
  • Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee · House · markup by, referred toSubcommittee: Oceanography, Gulf of Mexico and the Outer Continental Shelf 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.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 20 actions.

  1. Oct 31, 1994Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 103-426.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Oct 21, 1994PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Oct 6, 1994FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
  5. Oct 3, 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. Studds moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  8. CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
  9. Sep 28, 1994CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Natural Resources Committee
  10. CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  11. Aug 11, 1994CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
  12. Aug 4, 1994CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Oceanography, Gulf of Mexico and the Outer Continental Shelf Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
  13. CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Oceanography, Gulf of Mexico and the Outer Continental Shelf Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
  14. Jul 26, 1994CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  15. CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Oceanography, Gulf of Mexico and the Outer Continental Shelf Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
  16. Jan 21, 1994CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  17. Nov 24, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Oceanography, Gulf of Mexico and the Outer Continental Shelf Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
  18. Nov 22, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources Committee
  19. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
  20. 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.

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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.