Minor Party Liability Relief Act of 1996

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · May 9, 1996

Minor Party Liability Relief Act of 1996 - Amends the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 to except persons from liability under the Act for costs and damages at a facility if: (1) the liability is based solely on arrangement for disposal (or transport for disposal) of hazardous substances or acceptance of such substances for transport to facilities from which there is a release or threatened release; and (2) the material is in an amount not exceeding that specified in this Act or by regulation of the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. States exceptions to this limitation.

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. Specter, Arlen [R-PA] · R–PA

Committees

Environment and Public Works Committee

1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Sen. Santorum, Rick [R-PA]

Legislative record

Actions

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

May 9, 1996
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
May 9, 1996
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4939-4940)
May 9, 1996
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

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

Introduced in Senate · May 9, 1996 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.1742 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.1742, 104th Congress: Minor Party Liability Relief Act of 1996

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/1742

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1996-05-09.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/s1742/BILLS-104s1742is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:14:31Z. 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.1742 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.1742 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.1742, 104th Congress: Minor Party Liability Relief Act of 1996

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/1742

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1996-05-09.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/s1742/BILLS-104s1742is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:14:31Z. 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.1742 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.1742 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.1742, 104th Congress: Minor Party Liability Relief Act of 1996

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/1742

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1996-05-09.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/s1742/BILLS-104s1742is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:14:31Z. 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.1742 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.1742 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.1742, 104th Congress: Minor Party Liability Relief Act of 1996

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/1742

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1996-05-09.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/s1742/BILLS-104s1742is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:14:31Z. 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.1742 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.