To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of Virginia Key Beach Park in Biscayne Bay, Florida, for possible inclusion in the National Park System.
Public Law 107-343 · H.R. 2109 · 107th Congress · began in the House
Signed by George W. Bush (R) on Dec 17, 2002 · Public Lands and Natural Resources
Sponsor: Rep. Carrie Meek (D-FL-17)
Cosponsors (18): Rep. Alcee Hastings, Rep. Jim Davis,
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.
Requires the Secretary of the Interior to study and report to specified congressional committees on the suitability and feasibility of establishing as a National Park System unit the Virginia Key Beach Park in Biscayne Bay, Florida (which was used for recreation by African Americans at a time when public beaches were racially segregated by law).
Requires the Secretary, in conducting the study, to use the criteria for the study of areas for potential inclusion in the National Park System contained in the National Park System General Authorities Act.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Natural Resources Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Federal Lands Subcommittee
Energy and Natural Resources Committee · Senate · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: National Parks 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. 19 actions.
- Dec 17, 2002Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 107-343.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Dec 6, 2002PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Nov 20, 2002FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- Sep 11, 2002CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
- Jul 31, 2002CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
- Jun 12, 2002CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by National Parks Subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
- May 1, 2002CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
- Apr 30, 2002FloorFloor · The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · 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. Hansen moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- Apr 9, 2002CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
- Mar 20, 2002CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Natural Resources Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
- Dec 13, 2001CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
- Jun 18, 2001CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
- Jun 7, 2001CommitteeCommittee · 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.