Great Lakes Water Protection Act of 2003

Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Sep 17, 2003

Great Lakes Water Protection Act of 2003 - Amends the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 to direct the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to issue, within 30 days after enactment of this Act, a regulation that prohibits any vessel with a ballast water tank from entering the Great Lakes if more than five percent of the capacity of the tank contains ballast water.

Requires the master of such a vessel to certify compliance with such prohibition to the Secretary or the Secretary's designee before the vessel's departure from the first lock in the St. Lawrence Seaway.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Miller, Candice S. [R-MI-10] · R–MI

Committees

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

7 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 18, 2003
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
Sep 17, 2003
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Sep 17, 2003
Introduced in House
Sep 17, 2003
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 · Sep 17, 2003 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 18, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.3122 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.

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Discuss H.R.3122, 108th Congress: Great Lakes Water Protection Act of 2003

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/house-bill/3122

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2003-09-17.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/108/bills/hr3122/BILLS-108hr3122ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-18T19:01:23Z. 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.3122 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.3122 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.

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Discuss H.R.3122, 108th Congress: Great Lakes Water Protection Act of 2003

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/house-bill/3122

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2003-09-17.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/108/bills/hr3122/BILLS-108hr3122ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-18T19:01:23Z. 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.3122 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.3122 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.

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Discuss H.R.3122, 108th Congress: Great Lakes Water Protection Act of 2003

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/house-bill/3122

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2003-09-17.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/108/bills/hr3122/BILLS-108hr3122ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-18T19:01:23Z. 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.3122 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.3122 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.3122, 108th Congress: Great Lakes Water Protection Act of 2003

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/house-bill/3122

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2003-09-17.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/108/bills/hr3122/BILLS-108hr3122ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-18T19:01:23Z. 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.3122 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.