BWCA Wilderness Legacy Act

Subcommittee Hearings Held.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jul 10, 1997

BWCA Wilderness Legacy Act - Amends the Wilderness Act to: (1) redesignate the areas constituting the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Minnesota; (2) revise restrictions on the use of motorboats on specified portions of the Sea Gull Lake, Loon Lake, and Lac La Croix in the Wilderness; and (3) require the Secretary of Agriculture, effective on January 1, 1998, to terminate all special use permits for towboats within the Wilderness to prohibit such use for commercial or noncommercial purposes. Makes the provisions of Executive Order 10092 (establishing an airspace reservation over certain areas of the Superior National Forest, Minnesota) applicable to the Wilderness.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Vento, Bruce F. [D-MN-4] · D–MN

Committees

Natural Resources Committee

3 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Sep 9, 1997
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Jul 14, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health.
Jul 10, 1997
Referred to the House Committee on Resources.
Jul 10, 1997
Introduced in House
Jul 10, 1997
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Jul 10, 1997 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Aug 21, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.2149 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.2149, 105th Congress: BWCA Wilderness Legacy Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/2149

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1997-07-10.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hr2149/BILLS-105hr2149ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-21T16:11:14Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.2149 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.2149 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.2149, 105th Congress: BWCA Wilderness Legacy Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/2149

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1997-07-10.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hr2149/BILLS-105hr2149ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-21T16:11:14Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.2149 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.2149 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.2149, 105th Congress: BWCA Wilderness Legacy Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/2149

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1997-07-10.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hr2149/BILLS-105hr2149ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-21T16:11:14Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.2149 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.2149 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.2149, 105th Congress: BWCA Wilderness Legacy Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/2149

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1997-07-10.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hr2149/BILLS-105hr2149ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-21T16:11:14Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.2149 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.