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Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Act of 1985

Public Law 99-647 · S. 1374 · 99th Congress · began in the Senate

Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Nov 10, 1986 · Public Lands and Natural Resources

Sponsor: Sen. John Chafee (R-RI)

Cosponsors (3): 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.

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Summary

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

Establishes the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Establishes the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission to assist government authorities in developing and implementing an integrated resource management plan for the Corridor. Authorizes the Commission to hold hearings and acquire real property within the Corridor by gift or purchase from a willing seller. Requires such land acquisitions to be transferred to the appropriate agency.

Authorizes the Commission to enter into cooperative agreements and establish advisory groups as necessary.

Directs the Commission to develop a Cultural Heritage and Land Management Plan for the Corridor which sets its boundaries, inventories the historically significant property to be maintained, establishes standards, and develops an historic interpretation plan. Requires the approval of such plan by the Governors of Massachusetts and Rhode Island and the Secretary of the Interior. Requires the Commission to implement the Plan, granting priority to preserving the Blackstone Canal, providing information for visitors, and encouraging private and intergovernmental cooperation in building restoration and appropriate land use.

Terminates the Commission in five years unless extended for an additional five years.

Requires the Secretary to help prepare the Plan and appropriate visitor information and displays, providing technical assistance to the Commission if requested. Requires the cooperation of other Federal agencies.

Authorizes appropriations.

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. 16 actions.

  1. Nov 10, 1986Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 99-647.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Oct 30, 1986PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Oct 17, 1986Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to the House amendment by Voice Vote.
  5. Oct 15, 1986FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
  6. FloorFloor · Called up by House by Unanimous Consent.
  7. CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from House Natural Resources Committee
  8. Oct 9, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources Committee
  9. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to National Parks and Recreation Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  10. Oct 8, 1986FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
  11. Sep 25, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  12. Sep 17, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  13. Apr 11, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Public Lands, Reserved Water and Resource Conservation Subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  14. Jun 27, 1985CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  15. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Public Lands, Reserved Water and Resource Conservation Subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  16. 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.