Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act
Public Law 105-146 · H.R. 1658 · 105th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Bill Clinton (D) on Dec 16, 1997 · Public Lands and Natural Resources
Sponsor: Rep. Jim Saxton (R-NJ-3)
Cosponsors (2): Rep. Frank Pallone, Rep. Bill Delahunt
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.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act Amendments of 1997 - Amends the Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act to replace the existing Act with provisions requiring a moratorium on fishing for Atlantic striped bass in the coastal waters of a State that the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and the Secretaries of Commerce and the Interior determine is not complying with the Commission's plan for managing Atlantic striped bass. Provides for civil penalties and forfeiture of vessels, gear, and fish for violations of the moratorium.
Mandates continuing, comprehensive studies of Atlantic striped bass stocks and a study of the socio-economic benefits of the Atlantic striped bass resource.
Authorizes appropriations to carry out the Act. Authorizes cooperative agreements between the Secretaries and the Commission or States to use amounts appropriated under the Act.
Requires the Commission to prepare such management plans in accordance with standards and procedures of the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act relating to the preparation of coastal fishery management plans.
Mandates regulations governing fishing for Atlantic striped bass in the Exclusive Economic Zone that are consistent with the national standards in the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, ensure the effectiveness of State regulations on fishing for Atlantic striped bass in the coastal waters of a coastal State, and meet other requirements. Applies provisions of that Act regarding prohibited acts, civil penalties, criminal offenses, civil forfeitures, and enforcement concerning regulations and any plan issued under this paragraph.
Repeals provisions of the Anadromous Fish Conservation Act relating to studies of the anadromous stocks of Atlantic striped bass.
Repeals provisions of Federal law relating to a study of the striped bass fishery resources and habitats of the Albemarle Sound-Roanoke River basin area.
Repeals provisions of Federal law relating to regulations governing the fishing for Atlantic striped bass in the Exclusive Economic Zone.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Natural Resources Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Oversight and Investigations 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. 23 actions.
- Dec 16, 1997Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 105-146.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Dec 5, 1997PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Nov 13, 1997Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by voice vote.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Saxton moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments.
- Nov 10, 1997FloorFloor · Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent.
- Nov 8, 1997CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
- Oct 8, 1997CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Jul 9, 1997CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Jul 8, 1997FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 399 - 8 (Roll no. 248).House roll call 248
- FloorFloor · 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.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Peterson (PA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
- Jun 25, 1997CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Natural Resources Committee
- May 22, 1997CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
- May 21, 1997CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
- May 16, 1997CommitteeCommittee · 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.