Alabama Underwater Forest National Marine Sanctuary and Protection Act
Where it stands
- Introduced2/9/23
- Passed HousePassed 7/8/24
- Senate
- President
- Law
Passed the House 349–19 on July 8, 2024 (Roll Call 336 →). Received in the Senate on July 9, 2024. No Senate action since.
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Roll calls on this bill
- Democratic176 Yea · 0 Nay · 37 Not voting
- Republican173 Yea · 19 Nay · 27 Not voting
- Independent / Other0 Yea · 0 Nay · 0 Not voting
Alabama Underwater Forest National Marine Sanctuary and Protection Act
This bill designates an ancient cypress forest in the Gulf of Mexico as the Alabama Underwater Forest National Marine Sanctuary under the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972.
In the sanctuary, the following activities are prohibited:
cutting, removing, or any kind of subsurface salvage of the cypress trees;
lowering certain devices (e.g., dredging) below the surface of the water;
detonating explosives below the surface of the water;
drilling or coring the seabed; and
lowering, laying, positioning, or raising any type of seabed cable or cable-laying device.
However, the prohibitions do not apply to
fishing, diving, mooring, or similar recreational or commercial activities;
necessary operations of public vessels;
construction or placement of artificial reef structures for the purpose of enhancing fishery resources, fishing opportunities, or recreational diving opportunities;
exploration, development, or production of oil or gas projects authorized before this bill's enactment; and
certain other activities authorized by the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) must develop a comprehensive management plan for the sanctuary. NOAA must also establish an advisory council for the sanctuary.
6
2/9/23
What happens next
The Senate must pass the same text, then it goes to the President.
If it isn't enacted by Jan 3, 2025, it expires when the 118th Congress ends.
All actions (18)
- 2/9/23Introduced in House
- 2/9/23Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 2/21/23Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries.
- 1/18/24Subcommittee Hearings Held
- 5/7/24Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries Discharged
- 5/7/24Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 5/7/24Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
- 6/27/24Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 118-560.
- 6/27/24Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 462.
- 7/8/24Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- 7/8/24Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4463-4464)
- 7/8/24DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 897.
- 7/8/24At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
- 7/8/24Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4470-4471)
- 7/8/24Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 349 - 19 (Roll no. 336). (text: CR H4463)
- 7/8/24On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 349 - 19 (Roll no. 336). (text: CR H4463)
- 7/8/24Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- 7/9/24Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.