R.M.S. Titanic Maritime Memorial Act of 1986
Public Law 99-513 · S. 2048 · 99th Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Oct 21, 1986 · Transportation and Public Works
Sponsor: Sen. Lowell Weicker (R-CT)
Cosponsors (1): Sen. Claiborne Pell
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.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
R.M.S. Titanic Maritime Memorial Act of 1986 - Commends the members of the joint international expedition which discovered the R.M.S. Titanic.
Directs the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to consult with interested nations for the development of international guidelines for research, exploration, and, if appropriate, salvage of the Titanic which: (1) are consistent with its historical and cultural significance; and (2) promote the safety of those involved in such operations.
Directs the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Administrator, to negotiate an international agreement providing for: (1) the designation of the Titanic as an international maritime memorial; and (2) international research, exploration, and, if appropriate, salvage of the Titanic consistent with the international guidelines to be established. Sets forth reporting requirements for the Secretary and the Administrator.
Expresses the sense of the Congress that, while limited research and exploration of the site should continue, no person should conduct research or exploration which physically alters, disturbs, or salvages the Titanic pending adoption of international guidelines or an international agreement.
Provides that the United States does not, by enactment of this Act, assert sovereignty or exclusive right or jurisdiction over, or ownership of, any marine areas or the Titanic.
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. 9 actions.
- Oct 21, 1986Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 99-513.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Oct 10, 1986PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Oct 6, 1986FloorFloor · Passed House by Voice Vote.
- Sep 24, 1986FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
- Sep 11, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Foreign Relations Committee
- Sep 9, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Foreign Relations Committee
- Feb 5, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Foreign Relations Committee
- 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.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.