Insular Areas Act of 2011
Public Law 112-149 · S. 2009 · 112th Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Barack Obama (D) on Jul 26, 2012 · Government Operations and Politics
Sponsor: Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)
Cosponsors (1): Sen. Lisa Murkowski
Passage votesYeaNay
- HouseRecorded vote: 378 yea, 11 nay378–11
- 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.
Insular Areas Act of 2011 - Amends the Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2003 to direct the Secretary of Energy (DOE), beginning on January 1, 2012, to periodically conduct (not less frequently than every four years): (1) a visual study of the concrete exterior of the Cactus Crater containment structure on Runit Island, and (2) a radiochemical analysis of the groundwater surrounding and in such structure. Requires the Secretary to submit to the House Committee on Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources a report containing a description of the results of the study and analysis and a determination of any significant change in the health risks to the people of Enewetak (atoll in Marshall Islands) from the contaminants within such structure. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to make funds available to DOE to conduct such analyses.
Amends the federal judicial code to allow the temporary assignment of a magistrate or territorial judge as a judge of any duly constituted court of the freely associated compact states.
Amends the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 to: (1) require increases in the minimum wage in American Samoa to be made on a triennial basis (currently, increases are made annually); (2) disallow any increase in 2012, 2013, and 2014; and (3) delay the subsequent reports of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) on the impact of minimum wage increases until April 1, 2014, and every three years thereafter (currently, April 1, 2013, and every two years thereafter).
Who voted for it
Every House member of the 112th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 378 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.
378 yea11 nay42 present or did not vote
Democrats who voted yea(166)
Rep. Dennis KucinichD-OH-10
Rep. Barbara LeeD-CA-9
Rep. Jan SchakowskyD-IL-9
Rep. Raúl GrijalvaD-AZ-7
Rep. Yvette ClarkeD-NY-11
Rep. Jim McDermottD-WA-7
Rep. Marcia FudgeD-OH-11
Rep. John OlverD-MA-1
Rep. Pete StarkD-CA-13
Rep. John ConyersD-MI-14
Rep. Gwen MooreD-WI-4
Rep. Michael CapuanoD-MA-8
Rep. Donna EdwardsD-MD-4
Rep. Lynn WoolseyD-CA-6
Rep. Bobby RushD-IL-1
Rep. Maurice HincheyD-NY-22
Rep. John LewisD-GA-5
Rep. Bennie ThompsonD-MS-2
Rep. Nydia VelázquezD-NY-12
Rep. Ed MarkeyD-MA-7
Rep. Robert BradyD-PA-1
Rep. Ed TownsD-NY-10
Rep. Grace NapolitanoD-CA-38
Rep. Mike HondaD-CA-15
Rep. Keith EllisonD-MN-5
Rep. Frank PalloneD-NJ-6
Rep. Wm. ClayD-MO-1
Rep. José SerranoD-NY-16
Rep. Alcee HastingsD-FL-23
Rep. Jim McGovernD-MA-3
Rep. Judy ChuD-CA-32
Rep. Maxine WatersD-CA-35
Rep. Danny DavisD-IL-7
Rep. Jerrold NadlerD-NY-8
Rep. Elijah CummingsD-MD-7
Rep. Xavier BecerraD-CA-31
Rep. Hank JohnsonD-GA-4
Rep. Linda SánchezD-CA-39
Rep. Louise SlaughterD-NY-28
Rep. Rush HoltD-NJ-12
Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-15
Rep. John SarbanesD-MD-3
Rep. Ed PastorD-AZ-4
Rep. Tammy BaldwinD-WI-2
Rep. Frederica WilsonD-FL-17
Rep. Eddie JohnsonD-TX-30
Rep. Hansen ClarkeD-MI-13
Rep. Jim ClyburnD-SC-6
Rep. Dale KildeeD-MI-5
Rep. Michael DoyleD-PA-14
Rep. Mel WattD-NC-12
Rep. George MillerD-CA-7
Rep. John TierneyD-MA-6
Rep. Lucille Roybal-AllardD-CA-34
Rep. Rosa DeLauroD-CT-3
Rep. Corrine BrownD-FL-3
Rep. Brad MillerD-NC-13
Rep. Ted DeutchD-FL-19
Rep. Nancy PelosiD-CA-8
Rep. Richard NealD-MA-2
Rep. Tim RyanD-OH-17
Rep. Gregory MeeksD-NY-6
Rep. Chellie PingreeD-ME-1
Rep. John DingellD-MI-15
Rep. David PriceD-NC-4
Rep. Bill PascrellD-NJ-8
Rep. Betty SuttonD-OH-13
Rep. Henry WaxmanD-CA-30
Rep. Eliot EngelD-NY-17
Rep. Betty McCollumD-MN-4
Rep. John LarsonD-CT-1
Rep. Doris MatsuiD-CA-5
Rep. Debbie Wasserman SchultzD-FL-20
Rep. Paul TonkoD-NY-21
Rep. Albio SiresD-NJ-13
Rep. Joe CrowleyD-NY-7
Rep. André CarsonD-IN-7
Rep. Rob AndrewsD-NJ-1
Rep. Steny HoyerD-MD-5
Rep. Chaka FattahD-PA-2
Rep. Barney FrankD-MA-4
Rep. Diana DeGetteD-CO-1
Rep. Sam FarrD-CA-17
Rep. Marcy KapturD-OH-9
Rep. Steve CohenD-TN-9
Rep. David CicillineD-RI-1
Rep. John YarmuthD-KY-3
Rep. Peter ViscloskyD-IN-1
Rep. Mike ThompsonD-CA-1
Rep. Steven RothmanD-NJ-9
Rep. Kathy CastorD-FL-11
Rep. Lois CappsD-CA-23
Rep. Chris Van HollenD-MD-8
Rep. Earl BlumenauerD-OR-3
Rep. Carolyn MaloneyD-NY-14
Rep. Suzanne BonamiciD-OR-1
Rep. Colleen HanabusaD-HI-1
Rep. Sander LevinD-MI-12
Rep. Russ CarnahanD-MO-3
Rep. Jim LangevinD-RI-2
Rep. Nita LoweyD-NY-18
Rep. Joe BacaD-CA-43
Rep. Joe CourtneyD-CT-2
Rep. Loretta SanchezD-CA-47
Rep. Peter WelchD-VT
Rep. Howard BermanD-CA-28
Rep. Rubén HinojosaD-TX-15
Rep. Jim MoranD-VA-8
Rep. Niki TsongasD-MA-5
Rep. David ScottD-GA-13
Rep. Zoe LofgrenD-CA-16
Rep. John GaramendiD-CA-10
Rep. Susan DavisD-CA-53
Rep. Brad ShermanD-CA-27
Rep. William KeatingD-MA-10
Rep. Adam SchiffD-CA-29
Rep. Allyson SchwartzD-PA-13
Rep. Ben LujánD-NM-3
Rep. Jackie SpeierD-CA-12
Rep. Stephen LynchD-MA-9
Rep. Timothy BishopD-NY-1
Rep. Anna EshooD-CA-14
Rep. Mark CritzD-PA-12
Rep. Brian HigginsD-NY-27
Rep. Jerry McNerneyD-CA-11
Rep. Bruce BraleyD-IA-1
Rep. Carolyn McCarthyD-NY-4
Rep. Rick LarsenD-WA-2
Rep. Tim HoldenD-PA-17
Rep. A. Dutch RuppersbergerD-MD-2
Rep. Mike QuigleyD-IL-5
Rep. Jerry CostelloD-IL-12
Rep. Laura RichardsonD-CA-37
Rep. Ron BarberD-AZ-8
Rep. Timothy WalzD-MN-1
Rep. Shelley BerkleyD-NV-1
Rep. Adam SmithD-WA-9
Rep. Martin HeinrichD-NM-1
Rep. Sanford BishopD-GA-2
Rep. Gerald ConnollyD-VA-11
Rep. David LoebsackD-IA-2
Rep. Gene GreenD-TX-29
Rep. Nick RahallD-WV-3
Rep. Gary PetersD-MI-9
Rep. Ed PerlmutterD-CO-7
Rep. Jim HimesD-CT-4
Rep. Leonard BoswellD-IA-3
Rep. Ron KindD-WI-3
Rep. Michael MichaudD-ME-2
Rep. Daniel LipinskiD-IL-3
Rep. Henry CuellarD-TX-28
Rep. John CarneyD-DE
Rep. Kathleen HochulD-NY-26
Rep. Ben ChandlerD-KY-6
Rep. John BarrowD-GA-12
Rep. Joe DonnellyD-IN-2
Rep. Jim CostaD-CA-20
Rep. William OwensD-NY-23
Rep. Jim CooperD-TN-5
Rep. Jason AltmireD-PA-4
Rep. Collin PetersonD-MN-7
Rep. Larry KissellD-NC-8
Rep. Mike McIntyreD-NC-7
Rep. Mike RossD-AR-4
Rep. Heath ShulerD-NC-11
Rep. Jim MathesonD-UT-2
Republicans who voted yea(212)
Rep. Walter JonesR-NC-3
Rep. Steven LaTouretteR-OH-14
Rep. Patrick MeehanR-PA-7
Rep. Jim GerlachR-PA-6
Rep. Bob DoldR-IL-10
Rep. Ileana Ros-LehtinenR-FL-18
Rep. David ReichertR-WA-8
Rep. Mario Diaz-BalartR-FL-21
Rep. Frank LoBiondoR-NJ-2
Rep. Pete KingR-NY-3
Rep. Chris SmithR-NJ-4
Rep. Jon RunyanR-NJ-3
Rep. Charles DentR-PA-15
Rep. Christopher GibsonR-NY-20
Rep. Michael GrimmR-NY-13
Rep. Judy BiggertR-IL-13
Rep. Richard HannaR-NY-24
Rep. Rodney FrelinghuysenR-NJ-11
Rep. Lou BarlettaR-PA-11
Rep. Tom LathamR-IA-4
Rep. Shelley CapitoR-WV-2
Rep. Michael FitzpatrickR-PA-8
Rep. David McKinleyR-WV-1
Rep. David RiveraR-FL-25
Rep. Frank WolfR-VA-10
Rep. Michael TurnerR-OH-3
Rep. Charlie BassR-NH-2
Rep. Mike SimpsonR-ID-2
Rep. Aaron SchockR-IL-18
Rep. Robert TurnerR-NY-9
Rep. Nan HayworthR-NY-19
Rep. Hal RogersR-KY-5
Rep. Tom ColeR-OK-4
Rep. Rodney AlexanderR-LA-5
Rep. Mike RogersR-AL-3
Rep. Jeff FortenberryR-NE-1
Rep. Adam KinzingerR-IL-11
Rep. Frank LucasR-OK-3
Rep. Glenn ThompsonR-PA-5
Rep. Jerry LewisR-CA-41
Rep. Jo Ann EmersonR-MO-8
Rep. Mike KellyR-PA-3
Rep. Ander CrenshawR-FL-4
Rep. John ShimkusR-IL-19
Rep. Joseph HeckR-NV-3
Rep. Steve WomackR-AR-3
Rep. Denny RehbergR-MT
Rep. Jo BonnerR-AL-1
Rep. Ed WhitfieldR-KY-1
Rep. Ken CalvertR-CA-44
Rep. Bill ShusterR-PA-9
Rep. W. Bill YoungR-FL-10
Rep. Pat TiberiR-OH-12
Rep. Brian BilbrayR-CA-50
Rep. Rick CrawfordR-AR-1
Rep. Steve AustriaR-OH-7
Rep. Robert AderholtR-AL-4
Rep. Buck McKeonR-CA-25
Rep. Rick BergR-ND
Rep. Geoff DavisR-KY-4
Rep. Leonard LanceR-NJ-7
Rep. Don YoungR-AK
Rep. Spencer BachusR-AL-6
Rep. Kay GrangerR-TX-12
Rep. David DreierR-CA-26
Rep. Tom ReedR-NY-29
Rep. Gregg HarperR-MS-3
Rep. Daniel LungrenR-CA-3
Rep. Robert WittmanR-VA-1
Rep. Tim MurphyR-PA-18
Rep. Martha RobyR-AL-2
Rep. Doc HastingsR-WA-4
Rep. Kristi NoemR-SD
Rep. Chip CravaackR-MN-8
Rep. Greg WaldenR-OR-2
Rep. Elton GalleglyR-CA-24
Rep. Bobby SchillingR-IL-17
Rep. Tom MarinoR-PA-10
Rep. Randy ForbesR-VA-4
Rep. John CarterR-TX-31
Rep. Dave CampR-MI-4
Rep. Brett GuthrieR-KY-2
Rep. Jaime Herrera BeutlerR-WA-3
Rep. James RenacciR-OH-16
Rep. Larry BucshonR-IN-8
Rep. Gus BilirakisR-FL-9
Rep. Peter RoskamR-IL-6
Rep. Lee TerryR-NE-2
Rep. Fred UptonR-MI-6
Rep. Jeff DenhamR-CA-19
Rep. Mary Bono MackR-CA-45
Rep. Scott TiptonR-CO-3
Rep. Erik PaulsenR-MN-3
Rep. Roscoe BartlettR-MD-6
Rep. Tim GriffinR-AR-2
Rep. Mike RogersR-MI-8
Rep. Bob GibbsR-OH-18
Rep. Frank GuintaR-NH-1
Rep. Candice MillerR-MI-10
Rep. Michael McCaulR-TX-10
Rep. Scott RigellR-VA-2
Rep. Mark AmodeiR-NV-2
Rep. Allen WestR-FL-22
Rep. Bill CassidyR-LA-6
Rep. Renee EllmersR-NC-2
Rep. Steven PalazzoR-MS-4
Rep. Blaine LuetkemeyerR-MO-9
Rep. Bill JohnsonR-OH-6
Rep. Devin NunesR-CA-21
Rep. Daniel WebsterR-FL-8
Rep. Charles BoustanyR-LA-7
Rep. John SullivanR-OK-1
Rep. Kevin McCarthyR-CA-22
Rep. Joe BartonR-TX-6
Rep. Phil RoeR-TN-1
Rep. Ralph HallR-TX-4
Rep. Eric CantorR-VA-7
Rep. Randy HultgrenR-IL-14
Rep. Alan NunneleeR-MS-1
Rep. Mike CoffmanR-CO-6
Rep. Chuck FleischmannR-TN-3
Rep. Sean DuffyR-WI-7
Rep. Sam GravesR-MO-6
Rep. Adrian SmithR-NE-3
Rep. Howard CobleR-NC-6
Rep. Joseph PittsR-PA-16
Rep. Gary MillerR-CA-42
Rep. Steve PearceR-NM-2
Rep. John MicaR-FL-7
Rep. Pete OlsonR-TX-22
Rep. Scott DesJarlaisR-TN-4
Rep. Cory GardnerR-CO-4
Rep. Robert LattaR-OH-5
Rep. Vicky HartzlerR-MO-4
Rep. John KlineR-MN-2
Rep. Steve KingR-IA-5
Rep. Morgan GriffithR-VA-9
Rep. Richard NugentR-FL-5
Rep. Sue MyrickR-NC-9
Rep. Stephen FincherR-TN-8
Rep. Thomas RooneyR-FL-16
Rep. Blake FarentholdR-TX-27
Rep. John CulbersonR-TX-7
Rep. Darrell IssaR-CA-49
Rep. Andy HarrisR-MD-1
Rep. Donald ManzulloR-IL-16
Rep. James LankfordR-OK-5
Rep. Todd YoungR-IN-9
Rep. Paul RyanR-WI-1
Rep. Tom PetriR-WI-6
Rep. Bill PoseyR-FL-15
Rep. Sam JohnsonR-TX-3
Rep. Mac ThornberryR-TX-13
Rep. Lynn JenkinsR-KS-2
Rep. Bob GoodlatteR-VA-6
Rep. Quico CansecoR-TX-23
Rep. Rob BishopR-UT-1
Rep. Mo BrooksR-AL-5
Rep. Robert HurtR-VA-5
Rep. Tim WalbergR-MI-7
Rep. Ann Marie BuerkleR-NY-25
Rep. Diane BlackR-TN-6
Rep. Sandy AdamsR-FL-24
Rep. Phil GingreyR-GA-11
Rep. Duncan HunterR-CA-52
Rep. Steve SoutherlandR-FL-2
Rep. Kevin YoderR-KS-3
Rep. Dan BenishekR-MI-1
Rep. Steve ScaliseR-LA-1
Rep. Kenny MarchantR-TX-24
Rep. Dennis RossR-FL-12
Rep. Bill FloresR-TX-17
Rep. Austin ScottR-GA-8
Rep. Patrick McHenryR-NC-10
Rep. Kevin BradyR-TX-8
Rep. Joe WilsonR-SC-2
Rep. Dan BurtonR-IN-5
Rep. Pete SessionsR-TX-32
Rep. Billy LongR-MO-7
Rep. John FlemingR-LA-4
Rep. Mike PenceR-IN-6
Rep. Steve ChabotR-OH-1
Rep. Cliff StearnsR-FL-6
Rep. Michele BachmannR-MN-6
Rep. Todd RokitaR-IN-4
Rep. Dana RohrabacherR-CA-46
Rep. Michael BurgessR-TX-26
Rep. Marsha BlackburnR-TN-7
Rep. David SchweikertR-AZ-5
Rep. Tom PriceR-GA-6
Rep. Ed RoyceR-CA-40
Rep. Jimmy DuncanR-TN-2
Rep. Jeff MillerR-FL-1
Rep. Michael ConawayR-TX-11
Rep. Jason ChaffetzR-UT-3
Rep. Jeb HensarlingR-TX-5
Rep. Tim ScottR-SC-1
Rep. Virginia FoxxR-NC-5
Rep. Randy NeugebauerR-TX-19
Rep. James SensenbrennerR-WI-5
Rep. Mike PompeoR-KS-4
Rep. Trent FranksR-AZ-2
Rep. Trey GowdyR-SC-4
Rep. Doug LambornR-CO-5
Rep. Ben QuayleR-AZ-3
Rep. Jim JordanR-OH-4
Rep. Jeff DuncanR-SC-3
Rep. Joe WalshR-IL-8
Rep. Scott GarrettR-NJ-5
Rep. Tom McClintockR-CA-4
Rep. Justin AmashR-MI-3
Rep. Tom GravesR-GA-9
Data notes
The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 1413 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.


Judiciary Committee · House · referred toSubcommittee: Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet 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.
Related bills
1 bill the Library of Congress relates to this one.
S. 342Related bill
Republic of the Marshall Islands Supplemental Nuclear Compensation Act of 2011
Data notes
Related bills are identified by the Congressional Research Service, the House and the Senate: companion and identical bills, bills with similar text, bills that were folded into this law, and rules that brought it to the floor. A bill that is itself a public law in this site’s data links here; the others link to Congress.gov.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 16 actions.
- Jul 26, 2012Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 112-149.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Jul 19, 2012FloorFloor · Presented to President.
- Jul 17, 2012FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 378 - 11 (Roll no. 470).House roll call 470
- FloorFloor · Considered as unfinished business.
- FloorFloor · At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
- FloorFloor · DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 2009.
- FloorFloor · Considered under suspension of the rules.
- FloorFloor · Ms. Ros-Lehtinen moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
- Jan 6, 2012CommitteeCommittee · Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, Commercial and Administrative Law.
- Dec 16, 2011FloorFloor · Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- FloorFloor · Received in the House.
- FloorFloor · Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the …
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in Senate
Data notes
Every action the Library of Congress lists for the bill, from introduction to signing, plus the dated committee hearings. The source lists many steps twice (the chamber’s own entry and the Library of Congress copy, or a presidential and a became-law entry with the same words); those are shown once. Amendments are listed in their own section.
Amendments
No amendments to this bill are on record.
Data notes
Amendments offered to this bill in either chamber, as the Library of Congress records them: each with a status read from its last recorded step: agreed to, rejected, withdrawn, ruled out of order, fell with another amendment, or offered with no vote recorded (most Senate amendments are only ever offered). The wording of each amendment is the source’s. Amendments to amendments and amendments to other bills are not listed.
Official record
The bill’s full text is on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.