PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.

Beaver Basin Wilderness Act

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 994.

Official summary

Version 01 · Reported to Senate with amendment(s) · Sep 16, 2008

Beaver Basin Wilderness Act - Designates specified land and inland water within the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan as wilderness and as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System, which shall be known as the Beaver Basin Wilderness.

Makes the line of demarcation the boundary for any part of the Wilderness that is bordered by Lake Superior. Considers the surface water of the Lake, regardless of the fluctuating lake level, to be outside of the boundary of the Wilderness.

Provides for the continuation of the use of boats powered by electric motors on Little Beaver and Big Beaver Lakes.

Specifies this Act's effect on: (1) treaty rights; (2) management of the water of Lake Superior within the boundary of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore; (3) the use of motors on the surface water of the Lake adjacent to the Wilderness; and (4) the beaching of motorboats at the line of demarcation.

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.

Who introduced it

Sen. Levin, Carl [D-MI] · D–MI

Committees

  • Energy and Natural Resources Committee
1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

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

  1. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 994.

  2. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

  3. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

  4. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

  5. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 110-539.

  6. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4184)

  7. Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4183-4184)

  8. Introduced in Senate

Bill text & related measures

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

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.

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.3017 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
Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.3017 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
Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.3017 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
Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.3017 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