A bill to permit the transportation of passengers between Puerto Rico and other United States ports on foreign-flag vessels when United States flag service for such transportation is not available.
Public Law 98-563 · H.R. 89 · 98th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Oct 30, 1984 · Transportation and Public Works
Sponsor: Rep. Baltasar Corrada-del Río (I-PR)
Cosponsors: None
Passage votes
- HouseMethod not stated
- 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.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Authorizes the transportation of passengers on passenger vessels (including foreign-flag vessels) not qualified to engage in coastwise trade between ports in Puerto Rico and ports in the United States. Terminates such authority within 270 days after notification that a United States passenger vessel has a Certificate of Financial Responsibility for Indemnification of Passengers for Nonperformance of Transportation from the Federal Maritime Commission to provide such service. Provides for a 90-day extension of the 270-day period if the certified vessel has not entered the coastwise passenger trade. Authorizes the reinstatement of the displaced service if the service of the certified vessel is no longer available.
Defines the term "passenger vessel" for purposes of this Act.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Merchant Marine Subcommittee
Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee · Senate · referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Merchant Marine 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.
- Oct 30, 1984Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 98-563.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Oct 19, 1984PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Oct 11, 1984Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Agreed to Senate Amendments.
- FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
- Oct 4, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Aug 3, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Merchant Marine Subcommittee of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- May 22, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- May 15, 1984FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Yea-Nay Vote: 390 - 25 (Record Vote No: 146).House roll call 146
- May 3, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Apr 11, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Jan 26, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Merchant Marine Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Oct 19, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Merchant Marine Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Feb 9, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Merchant Marine Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Jan 3, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Merchant Marine and Fisheries 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.