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Recreational Boating Safety Act of 1986

Public Law 99-626 · H.R. 4731 · 99th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Nov 7, 1986 · Sports and Recreation

Sponsor: Rep. Robert Davis (R-MI-11)

Cosponsors (4): Rep. Norman Lent,

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.

Recreational Boating Safety Act of 1986 - Requires the Secretary of Transportation to report to the Congress prior to February 1, 1987, regarding the use of alcohol-blended gasoline in recreational vessels. Delineates the contents of such report. Directs the Secretary to consult with the National Boating Safety Advisory Council in preparing such report. Terminates such Council on September 30, 1991.

Amends Federal law regarding recreational boating safety to delete the membership limitation of such Council, and to provide that the Secretary shall appoint members of such Council with expertise in recreational boating safety. Amends the membership requirements to specify the number of members who shall represent certain sectors of the recreational boating public.

Declares that a certain conveyance agreement dated December 9, 1977, between the Commandant of the Coast Guard and Koniag, Incorporated, (a regional native corporation in Alaska) shall be interpreted to include: (1) that certain machinery may be maintained on lands conveyed to Koniag if it does not cause harmful electromagnetic interference with the Coast Guard Holiday Beach receiver item or is operated under terms mutually agreeable to the Coast Guard and Koniag, Incorporated; (2) the conveyance of the "old shipyard" includes the wharf and all lands beneath it; (3) an access and utility easement is intended as part of the conveyance for Cliff Point; and (4) the construction of a dock facility or other structures is not inconsistent with the easement and access to a barge landing area if such construction is in accordance with Federal approval.

Extends to September 30, 1987, the authority of the Secretary of Commerce to make certain loans under the Coastal Zone Management Act. Limits such loan authority to $7,000,000.

Amends the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 to provide that any portion of a State grant which remains unobligated by the end of the fiscal year or during the second year after the fiscal year for which it was originally authorized by a State for obligation, shall revert to those funds available for the original grant purpose (thus ensuring that funds appropriated for Coastal Zone Management shall be spent for coastal management only).

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. 17 actions.

  1. Nov 7, 1986Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 99-626.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Oct 30, 1986PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Oct 18, 1986Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Agreed to Senate Amendments by Voice Vote.
  5. FloorFloor · Passed Senate with amendments by Voice Vote.
  6. FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
  7. Oct 9, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
  8. Oct 6, 1986FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
  9. CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
  10. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
  11. Oct 1, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
  12. Jun 17, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Coast Guard and Navigation Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
  13. CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Coast Guard and Navigation Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
  14. May 20, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Coast Guard and Navigation Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
  15. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Coast Guard and Navigation Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
  16. May 1, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
  17. 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.

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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.