To declare a portion of the James River and Kanawha Canal in Richmond, Virginia, to be nonnavigable waters of the United States for purposes of title 46, United States Code, and the other maritime laws of the United States.
Public Law 106-32 · H.R. 1034 · 106th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Bill Clinton (D) on Jun 1, 1999 · Transportation and Public Works
Sponsor: Rep. Tom Bliley (R-VA-7)
Cosponsors (4): Rep. Bobby Scott, Rep. Owen Pickett,
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.
Declares the portion of the James River and Kanawha Canal in Richmond, Virginia, between the Great Ship Lock on the east and the limits of the city of Richmond on the west, to be a non-navigable waterway of the United States for purposes of Federal vessel safety standards.
Requires the Secretary of Transportation to provide such technical advice, information, and assistance as the city may request to insure that vessels operating on such waters are built, maintained, and operated in a manner consistent with protecting public safety.
Allows the Secretary to terminate such declaration by publishing a determination that vessels operating on such waters have not been built, maintained, and operated in such a manner. Requires the Secretary, before making a determination, to: (1) consult with State and local officials regarding whether such a determination is necessary to protect public safety and will serve the public interest; and (2) provide to persons who might be adversely affected an opportunity for comment and a hearing.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation 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.
- Jun 1, 1999Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 106-32.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- May 27, 1999PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- May 26, 1999FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- May 18, 1999CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- May 5, 1999CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Apr 28, 1999CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Apr 27, 1999FloorFloor · 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 voice vote.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Shuster moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
- Apr 22, 1999CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
- Mar 10, 1999CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
- Mar 9, 1999CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Transportation and Infrastructure 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.