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A bill to revise the boundaries of the Saratoga National Historical Park in the State of New York, and for other purposes.

Public Law 97-460 · S. 1540 · 97th Congress · began in the Senate

Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Jan 12, 1983 · Public Lands and Natural Resources

Sponsor: Sen. Daniel Moynihan (D-NY)

Cosponsors: None

Passage votes

  • HouseVoice vote
  • SenateVoice vote
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.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Revises the boundaries of the Saratoga National Historical Park in New York.

Prohibits the acquisition of lands or property interests within the park without the owner's consent unless: (1) the Secretary of the Interior finds that the owner is or will be significantly degrading the value of such land; or (2) the owner fails to grant the Secretary the right of first refusal when the owner intends to transfer any interest in such lands to persons other than the owner's immediate family. Requires immediate notification to the owner of any such determination with respect to the owner's actions. Requires the Secretary to attempt to negotiate a mutually satisfactory solution if the owner immediately ceases his or her activities upon such notification. Provides that if the owner intends to transfer an interest in lands within the park to persons other than the owner's immediate family, the owner must give the Secretary the right of first refusal by written notification. Requires the Secretary to respond in 45 days and to exercise such right within 90 days after such response, or the owner may proceed with the transfer.

Removes a specified tract of land from the acquisition provisions above.

Provides that an owner of property within the park must obtain a written determination from the Secretary as to whether a planned action by the owner is compatible with the purposes of the park. Requires the Secretary to issue the owner a certificate of exemption from condemnation for such action if such action is found to be compatible with those purposes.

Permits an owner of improved property within the park to retain a right of use and occupancy of the property for residential or agricultural purposes. Makes such rights inapplicable with respect to property necessary for administration, development, access, or public use.

Provides that owners of property within the park may notify the Secretary of their desire to sell such property. Requires the Secretary to endeavor to acquire such property within six months of the notice at fair market value and subject to the Secretary's conditions.

Amends Federal law establishing the Saratoga National Historical Park to: (1) repeal the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to accept donations of additional lands, buildings, or other property in Saratoga County; and (2) remove the acreage limitation on the Park.

Authorizes appropriations after October 1, 1983, to carry out this Act. Limits the authorization of appropriations for land acquisition to $1,000,000.

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.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 20 actions.

  1. Jan 12, 1983Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 97-460.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Jan 3, 1983PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Dec 21, 1982Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendment. By Voice Vote.
  5. Oct 1, 1982FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
  6. FloorFloor · Called up by House by Unanimous Consent.
  7. CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
  8. Sep 29, 1982CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Natural Resources Committee
  9. Sep 23, 1982CommitteeCommittee · Reported by National Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  10. CommitteeCommittee · Markup by National Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  11. Aug 3, 1982CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by National Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  12. Jun 24, 1982CommitteeCommittee · Referred to National Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  13. Jun 14, 1982CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources Committee
  14. Jun 10, 1982FloorFloor · Passed Senate with amendments by Voice Vote.
  15. May 26, 1982CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  16. May 13, 1982CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  17. Apr 15, 1982CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Public Lands, Reserved Water and Resource Conservation Subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  18. Jul 29, 1981CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  19. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Public Lands, Reserved Water and Resource Conservation Subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  20. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
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.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.