A bill to amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to provide that the designation of critical habitat for endangered and threatened species be required as part of the development of recovery plans for those species.

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 237.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · May 20, 1999

Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to require the Secretary of the Interior or Commerce, as appropriate, after a final determination that a species is threatened or endangered, to: (1) appoint a recovery team to develop a recovery plan for the species; or (2) determine that such a team shall not be appointed after public notice and comment. Establishes a timetable for the publication of final recovery plans. Directs a recovery team, after the publication of a final regulation containing a listing determination for a species, to provide the Secretary with a description of species habitat that is recommended for designation as critical habitat and any recommendations for special management considerations or protection specific to the habitat. Requires the Secretary to perform such duties if a recovery team is not appointed. Directs the Secretary to designate any habitat considered to be critical habitat of an endangered or threatened species that is indigenous to the United States or waters with respect to which the United States exercises sovereign rights or jurisdiction. Provides for designation of critical habitat concurrently with publication of a recovery plan. Requires such designation within three years of a determination that a species is endangered or threatened if a recovery plan is not developed. Authorizes such designation concurrently with the determination that a species is endangered or threatened if such designation at the time of listing is essential to avoid imminent species extinction. Bases the designation of critical habitat on the best scientific and commercial data available and after consideration of economic impact, impacts to military training and operations, and any other relevant impact. Requires the Secretary to develop final recovery plans and review or revise critical habitat designations for species listed as endangered or threatened before this Act's enactment.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Chafee, John H. [R-RI] · R–RI

Committees

Environment and Public Works 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.

Jul 28, 1999
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 237.
Jul 28, 1999
Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported to Senate by Senator Chafee with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 106-126. Additional views filed.
Jul 28, 1999
Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported to Senate by Senator Chafee with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 106-126. Additional views filed.
Jun 29, 1999
Committee on Environment and Public Works. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
May 27, 1999
Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Drinking Water. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 106-437.
May 20, 1999
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
May 20, 1999
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5761)
May 20, 1999
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

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

Reported to Senate · Jul 28, 1999 Formatted Text PDF
Introduced in Senate · May 20, 1999 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: Sep 8, 2026. 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 S.1100 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 S.1100, 106th Congress: A bill to amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to provide that the designation of critical habitat for endangered and threatened species be required as part of the development of recovery plans for those species.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/106th-congress/senate-bill/1100

Text version to examine: Reported to Senate · 1999-07-28.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/106/bills/s1100/BILLS-106s1100rs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:12:22Z. 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 S.1100 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 S.1100 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 S.1100, 106th Congress: A bill to amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to provide that the designation of critical habitat for endangered and threatened species be required as part of the development of recovery plans for those species.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/106th-congress/senate-bill/1100

Text version to examine: Reported to Senate · 1999-07-28.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/106/bills/s1100/BILLS-106s1100rs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:12:22Z. 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 S.1100 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 S.1100 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 S.1100, 106th Congress: A bill to amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to provide that the designation of critical habitat for endangered and threatened species be required as part of the development of recovery plans for those species.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/106th-congress/senate-bill/1100

Text version to examine: Reported to Senate · 1999-07-28.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/106/bills/s1100/BILLS-106s1100rs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:12:22Z. 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 S.1100 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 S.1100 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 S.1100, 106th Congress: A bill to amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to provide that the designation of critical habitat for endangered and threatened species be required as part of the development of recovery plans for those species.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/106th-congress/senate-bill/1100

Text version to examine: Reported to Senate · 1999-07-28.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/106/bills/s1100/BILLS-106s1100rs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:12:22Z. 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 S.1100 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.