A bill to convey certain submerged land to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and for other purposes.

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 109-291.

S.1831 through Congress

S.1831 keeps its number as it moves between the House and Senate.

SenateOct 6, 2005IntroducedOfficial record

Major milestones in the imported record. See all actions.

No House action is available in our imported record yet.

Separate related House measures (1)

These are different measures identified as related by Congress.gov. Their text and outcomes may differ; they are not the House stage of S.1831.

Related House bill: H.R.4255 To convey certain submerged lands to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in order to give that territory the same benefits in its submerged lands as Guam, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa have in their submerged lands.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Oct 6, 2005

Conveys to the government of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands submerged lands surrounding such Islands and extending three geographical miles outward from their coastlines.

Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to resolve certain claims of the Commonwealth arising pursuant to the Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America.

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. Domenici, Pete V. [R-NM] · R–NM

Committees

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM]

Legislative record

Actions

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

Oct 25, 2005
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 109-291.
Oct 6, 2005
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR 10/7/2005 S11223)
Oct 6, 2005
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR 10/07/2005 S11222)
Oct 6, 2005
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 · Oct 6, 2005 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HR 4255 · To convey certain submerged lands to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in order to give that territory the same benefits in its submerged lands as Guam, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa have in their submerged lands.

Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. 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.1831 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.1831, 109th Congress: A bill to convey certain submerged land to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/senate-bill/1831

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2005-10-06.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/s1831/BILLS-109s1831is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:09:59Z. 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.1831 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.1831 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.1831, 109th Congress: A bill to convey certain submerged land to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/senate-bill/1831

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2005-10-06.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/s1831/BILLS-109s1831is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:09:59Z. 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.1831 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.1831 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.1831, 109th Congress: A bill to convey certain submerged land to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/senate-bill/1831

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2005-10-06.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/s1831/BILLS-109s1831is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:09:59Z. 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.1831 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.1831 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.1831, 109th Congress: A bill to convey certain submerged land to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/senate-bill/1831

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2005-10-06.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/s1831/BILLS-109s1831is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:09:59Z. 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.1831 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.