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National Marine Sanctuaries Preservation Act

Public Law 104-283 · H.R. 543 · 104th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Bill Clinton (D) on Oct 11, 1996 · Public Lands and Natural Resources

Sponsor: Rep. Jim Saxton (R-NJ-3)

Cosponsors: None

Passage votes

  • HouseVoice vote
  • SenateUnanimous consent
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.

National Marine Sanctuaries Preservation Act - Amends the National Marine Sanctuaries Act to authorize appropriations to carry out the Act.

(Sec. 4) Mandates a long-range, comprehensive plan for the management, stabilization, preservation, and recovery of artifacts and materials of the U.S. Ship Monitor using, to the extent feasible, the resources of Federal and private entities with expertise and capabilities that are helpful.

(Sec. 5) Modifies national marine sanctuary advisory committee meeting notice requirements.

(Sec. 6) Authorizes adoption of a symbol for the national marine sanctuary program (NMSP) or any individual sanctuary and the related designation of official sponsors, the selling of products to promote the NMSP, and the collection of monetary or in-kind contributions for symbol use. Requires contributions raised through the sale or use of symbols or products related to a specific sanctuary to be used to support that sanctuary.

(Sec. 7) Amends the Hawaiian Islands National Marine Sanctuary Act to modify requirements regarding: (1) the inclusion in the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary of the marine environment near Kahoolawe Island; and (2) the effect of an objection by the Governor of Hawaii. Prohibits any user fee applicable to the Hawaiian Islands National Marine Sanctuary.

(Sec. 8) Amends, notwithstanding specified provisions of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, the boundaries of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary to include a described area popularly known as Stetson Bank.

(Sec. 10) Prohibits any designation of an area in the Northwest Straits in the State of Washington as a national marine sanctuary from taking effect unless the designation is specifically authorized by a law enacted after enactment of this Act.

(Sec. 11) Designates the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary as the Gerry E. Studds Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.

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. 12 actions.

  1. Oct 11, 1996Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 104-283.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Oct 2, 1996PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Sep 28, 1996FloorFloor · Received in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
  5. FloorFloor · The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
  6. FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  7. FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
  8. FloorFloor · Mr. Saxton moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  9. Jan 25, 1995CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  10. Jan 18, 1995CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  11. Jan 17, 1995CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources Committee
  12. 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.