A bill to amend the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to authorize the transfer to State and local government of certain surplus property for use for law enforcement or public safety purposes.

Referred to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.

S.203 through Congress

S.203 keeps its number as it moves between the House and Senate.

SenateJan 23, 1997IntroducedOfficial 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.203.

Related House bill: H.R.404 To amend the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to authorize the transfer to State and local governments of certain surplus property for use for law enforcement or public safety purposes.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jan 23, 1997

Amends the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to authorize the transfer to State and local governments of surplus real and related personal property needed for use by the transferee or grantee for a law enforcement or public safety purpose. Applies the law to prior transfers and conveyances.

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. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA] · D–CA

Committees

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
Environment and Public Works Committee

1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]

Legislative record

Actions

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

Feb 5, 1997
Referred to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.
Feb 5, 1997
Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Feb 5, 1997
Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Jan 23, 1997
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Jan 23, 1997
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S681)
Jan 23, 1997
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

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

Reference Change Senate · Feb 5, 1997 Formatted Text PDF
Introduced in Senate · Jan 23, 1997 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HR 404 · To amend the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to authorize the transfer to State and local governments of certain surplus property for use for law enforcement or public safety purposes.

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.203 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.203, 105th Congress: A bill to amend the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to authorize the transfer to State and local government of certain surplus property for use for law enforcement or public safety purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/203

Text version to examine: Reference Change Senate · 1997-02-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s203/BILLS-105s203rcs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:14:27Z. 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.203 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.203 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.203, 105th Congress: A bill to amend the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to authorize the transfer to State and local government of certain surplus property for use for law enforcement or public safety purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/203

Text version to examine: Reference Change Senate · 1997-02-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s203/BILLS-105s203rcs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:14:27Z. 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.203 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.203 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.203, 105th Congress: A bill to amend the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to authorize the transfer to State and local government of certain surplus property for use for law enforcement or public safety purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/203

Text version to examine: Reference Change Senate · 1997-02-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s203/BILLS-105s203rcs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:14:27Z. 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.203 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.203 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.203, 105th Congress: A bill to amend the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to authorize the transfer to State and local government of certain surplus property for use for law enforcement or public safety purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/203

Text version to examine: Reference Change Senate · 1997-02-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s203/BILLS-105s203rcs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:14:27Z. 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.203 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.