A bill to amend the Federal Power Act to remove the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to license projects on fresh waters in the State of Hawaii.

Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Power.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jun 5, 1997

Amends the Federal Power Act to remove hydroelectric power projects on fresh waters in the State of Hawaii from the licensing jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

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. Akaka, Daniel K. [D-HI] · D–HI

Committees

Energy and Commerce Committee
Energy and Natural Resources Committee

0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

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

Jul 23, 1998
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Power.
Jul 14, 1998
Referred to the House Committee on Commerce.
Jul 14, 1998
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Jul 14, 1998
Received in the House.
Jun 25, 1998
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7226)
Jun 25, 1998
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S7226)
Oct 15, 1997
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 217.
Oct 15, 1997
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported to Senate by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 105-112.
Oct 15, 1997
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported to Senate by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 105-112.
Sep 24, 1997
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Jul 30, 1997
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources requested executive comment from Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, and Interior, and Office of Management and Budget.
Jun 10, 1997
Subcommittee on Water and Power. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 105-145.
Jun 6, 1997
Referred to Subcommittee on Water and Power.
Jun 5, 1997
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Jun 5, 1997
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5362)
Jun 5, 1997
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

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

Referred in House · Jul 14, 1998 Formatted Text PDF
Engrossed in Senate · Jun 25, 1998 Formatted Text PDF
Reported to Senate · Oct 15, 1997 Formatted Text PDF
Introduced in Senate · Jun 5, 1997 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

S 439 · A bill to provide for Alaska State jurisdiction over small hydroelectric projects, to address voluntary licensing of hydroelectric projects on fresh waters in the State of Hawaii, to provide an exemption for portion of a hydroelectric project located in the State of New Mexico, and for other 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.846 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.846, 105th Congress: A bill to amend the Federal Power Act to remove the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to license projects on fresh waters in the State of Hawaii.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/846

Text version to examine: Referred in House · 1998-07-14.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s846/BILLS-105s846rfh.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.846 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.846 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.846, 105th Congress: A bill to amend the Federal Power Act to remove the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to license projects on fresh waters in the State of Hawaii.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/846

Text version to examine: Referred in House · 1998-07-14.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s846/BILLS-105s846rfh.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.846 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.846 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.846, 105th Congress: A bill to amend the Federal Power Act to remove the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to license projects on fresh waters in the State of Hawaii.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/846

Text version to examine: Referred in House · 1998-07-14.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s846/BILLS-105s846rfh.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.846 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.846 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.846, 105th Congress: A bill to amend the Federal Power Act to remove the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to license projects on fresh waters in the State of Hawaii.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/846

Text version to examine: Referred in House · 1998-07-14.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s846/BILLS-105s846rfh.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.846 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.