PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Became Public Law No: 106-513.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Aug 4, 1999
National Marine Sanctuaries Amendments Act of 1999 - Amends the National Marine Sanctuaries Act to modify the Act's findings, purposes, policies, and definitions.(Sec. 5) Revises sanctuary designation standards. Removes a requirement that the Secretary of Commerce (as part of the environmental impact statement required by the Act) draft a resource assessment report.(Sec. 6) Changes designation and implementation procedures, including: (1) requiring a resource assessment; and (2) allowing changes to designation terms by following procedures of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (currently, only by the same procedures by which the original designation is made). Modifies the circumstances in which the Secretary may withdraw an entire designation.(Sec. 7) Adds to the list of unlawful activities: (1) the offering for sale, purchasing, importing, or exporting of any sanctuary resource; and (2) provisions specifying activities that constitute interference with enforcement of the Act. (Current law makes interference unlawful, but does not specify what acts constitute interference.)(Sec. 8) Empowers officers authorized to enforce the National Marine Sanctuaries Act to arrest any person on reasonable cause to believe that the person has interfered with enforcement. Makes interference punishable by fine or imprisonment. Authorizes the Secretary bring a civil action to assess and collect any civil penalty for which a person is liable for violation of the Act. Authorizes the Secretary to subpoena electronic files. Allows, in any action by the United States under the Act, process to be served where the defendant is found, resides, transacts business, or has appointed an agent for service or process.(Sec. 10) Authorizes the Secretary to conduct, support, or coordinate (currently, directs the Secretary to conduct) research, monitoring, evaluation, and education programs.(Sec. 11) Mandates public notice before the Secretary identifies any activity subject to a sanctuary special use permit. Requires a permittee to have insurance or an equivalent bond (currently, to have insurance). Authorizes the Secretary to assess and collect special use permit fees for the fair market value of the sanctuary resource (currently, for the fair market value of the sanctuary resource and a reasonable return to the U.S. government). Allows, for nonprofit activities and for activities the Secretary considers to be beneficial to the system, waiver or reduction of certain fee portions or acceptance of in-kind services in lieu of fees.(Sec. 12) Authorizes the Secretary, notwithstanding any other provision of law, to apply for and use grants from Federal, State, regional, interstate, or local agencies, foundations, or other persons to carry out the purposes of the Act. Authorizes the Secretary to use by agreement the personnel, services, or facilities of Federal, State, or local agencies on a reimbursable or non-reimbursable basis to assist in carrying out the Act.(Sec. 13) Makes a vessel that injures (currently, that is used to injure) a sanctuary resource liable in rem. Declares that nothing in specified Federal laws limits the liability of any person or vessel (currently, of any person) under the Act. Directs the Secretary to request the Attorney General to begin a civil action against any person or vessel that may be liable for response costs and damages. Sets a statute of limitations on actions for response costs and damages.(Sec. 14) Authorizes appropriations to carry out the Act.(Sec. 16) Changes the function of sanctuary advisory councils from assisting to giving advice and recommendations to the Secretary.(Sec. 17) Allows the Secretary to solicit and accept monetary or in-kind contributions from official sponsors of the national program or of an individual sanctuary for the use of, including the sale of items bearing, the symbol of the national program or a sanctuary (currently, for the use of the symbol). Allows the Secretary to enter into an agreement with a nonprofit organization authorizing it to: (1) assist in the administration of the sponsorship program; (2) use the symbols; (3) solicit persons to be official sponsors; (4) collect the statutory contribution from the sponsor; and (5) retain not more than five percent of the collected amounts to offset the organization's administrative costs in soliciting sponsors, transferring the remainder to the Secretary.
People & committees
Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME] · R–ME
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Became Public Law No: 106-513.
Became Public Law No: 106-513.
Signed by President.
Signed by President.
Presented to President.
Presented to President.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR 10/25/2000 H11188-11192 ; wrong version inadvertently printed on 10/24/2000 CR H10718-10720)
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR 10/25/2000 H11188-11192 ; wrong version inadvertently printed on 10/24/2000 CR H10718-10720)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 1482.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H10718-10721)
Mr. Hansen moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Held at the desk.
Received in the House.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text of measure as passed: CR S10639-10642)
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text of measure as passed: CR S10639-10642)
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S10633-10642; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S10633-10635)
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 702.
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator McCain with amendments. With written report No. 106-353.
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator McCain with amendments. With written report No. 106-353.
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10223-10226)
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10222-10223)
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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