An Act to amend certain provisions of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 relating to the collection of fees in connection with the use of Federal areas for outdoor recreation purposes.
Public Law 93-81 · H.R. 6717 · 93rd Congress · began in the House
Signed by Richard Nixon (R) on Aug 1, 1973 · Emergency Management
Sponsor: Rep. John Hammerschmidt (R-AR-3)
Cosponsors (22): Rep. Herbert Roberts, Rep. Bill Archer,
Passage votes
- HouseMethod not stated
- SenateMethod not stated
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.
Provides that no entrance or admission fees shall be collected after March 31, 1970, by any officer or employee of the United States at public recreation areas located at lakes and reservoirs under the jurisdiction of the Corps of Engineers, United States Army. States that user fees at these lakes and reservoirs shall be collected by officers and employees of the United States only from users of highly developed facilities requiring continuous presence of personnel for maintenance and supervision of the facilities, and shall not be collected for day use or for access to or use of water areas, undeveloped or lightly developed shoreland, boat launching ramps where no mechanical or hydraulic equipment is provided, roads, or visitor centers, or for access to or use of moderately developed facilities such as, but not limited to, picnic sites, playgrounds, drinking water, wayside exhibits, trails, overlook sites, scenic drives, toilet facilities, automobile parking areas, or for access to or use of areas containing one or more of such facilities.
Provides for the collection of reasonable admission fees for a single visit at any designated area from persons who choose not to purchase the annual permit or who enter such an area by means other than by private, noncommercial vehicle. Defines 'single visit' as that length of time a visitor remains within the exterior boundary of a designated fee area beginning from the day he first enters the area until he leaves, except that on the same day such admission fee is paid, the visitor may leave and reenter without the payment of an additional admission fee to the same area.
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.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 13 actions.
- Aug 1, 1973Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 93-81.
- Jul 20, 1973PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Jul 19, 1973Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to Senate amendments.
- Jul 17, 1973FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- Jul 12, 1973CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
- Jun 25, 1973CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
- May 23, 1973CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
- May 22, 1973FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #152 (307-90).House roll call 152
- May 16, 1973CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
- Apr 9, 1973CommitteeCommittee · 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.