A bill to amend the Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1985 to clarify that the fee for providing customs services in connection with passengers arriving on commercial vessels making a single voyage may be collected only one time from each passenger, and for other purposes.

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · May 17, 1996

Amends the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 to proscribe any fee assessment for certain customs services provided in connection with the arrival of any passenger on board a commercial vessel traveling only between ports within the customs territory of the United States. Provides that specified fee exemptions do not apply in the case of the arrival of any passenger on board a commercial vessel whose journey originates and terminates at the same place in the U.S. if there are no intervening stops. Mandates a one-time only assessment of certain customs fees for each passenger in the case of a commercial vessel making a single voyage involving two or more United States ports with respect to which the passengers would otherwise be charged a fee.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Murkowski, Frank H. [R-AK] · R–AK

Committees

Finance Committee

1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Sen. Graham, Bob [D-FL]

Legislative record

Actions

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

May 17, 1996
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
May 17, 1996
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5267-5268)
May 17, 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 17, 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: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.1771 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.1771, 104th Congress: A bill to amend the Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1985 to clarify that the fee for providing customs services in connection with passengers arriving on commercial vessels making a single voyage may be collected only one time from each passenger, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/1771

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1996-05-17.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/s1771/BILLS-104s1771is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:23:16Z. 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.1771 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.1771 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.1771, 104th Congress: A bill to amend the Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1985 to clarify that the fee for providing customs services in connection with passengers arriving on commercial vessels making a single voyage may be collected only one time from each passenger, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/1771

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1996-05-17.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/s1771/BILLS-104s1771is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:23:16Z. 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.1771 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.1771 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.1771, 104th Congress: A bill to amend the Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1985 to clarify that the fee for providing customs services in connection with passengers arriving on commercial vessels making a single voyage may be collected only one time from each passenger, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/1771

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1996-05-17.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/s1771/BILLS-104s1771is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:23:16Z. 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.1771 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.1771 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.1771, 104th Congress: A bill to amend the Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1985 to clarify that the fee for providing customs services in connection with passengers arriving on commercial vessels making a single voyage may be collected only one time from each passenger, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/1771

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1996-05-17.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/s1771/BILLS-104s1771is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:23:16Z. 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.1771 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.