United States · Law · S
S. 858 (100th)
Abandoned Shipwreck Act of 1987
Introduced
26 March 1987
Last action
28 April 1988 · Became law
Status
Became Public Law No: 100-298.
Sponsors
Sen. Bradley, Bill [D-NJ], Sen. Pell, Claiborne [D-RI], Sen. Hecht, Chic [R-NV], Sen. Graham, Bob [D-FL], Sen. Bentsen, Lloyd M. [D-TX], Sen. Stafford, Robert T. [R-VT], Sen. Inouye, Daniel K. [D-HI], Sen. Mikulski, Barbara A. [D-MD], Sen. Chiles, Lawton [D-FL], Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ], Sen. Chafee, John H. [R-RI], Sen. Gramm, Phil [R-TX], Sen. Fowler, Wyche, Jr. [D-GA], Sen. Stevens, Ted [R-AK], Sen. Gore, Albert, Jr. [D-TN], Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA], Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV], Sen. Murkowski, Frank H. [R-AK]
Subjects
Transport
Source updated
24 March 2026
Summary
Abandoned Shipwreck Act of 1987 - Provides that the United States asserts title to any abandoned shipwreck that is: (1) embedded in submerged lands of a State; (2) embedded in coralline formations protected by a State on its submerged lands; or (3) on submerged lands of a State when such shipwreck is included or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. Declares that any title to abandoned shipwrecks asserted under such conditions is transferred to the State in or on whose submerged lands the shipwreck is located. States that any abandoned shipwreck in or on the public lands of the United States (except the Outer Continental Shelf) is the property of the United States. Directs the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation to publish, within six months after enactment of this Act, advisory guidelines for the protection of shipwrecks and properties.
This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.
Timeline
26 March 1987
Referred
Referred to Subcommittee on Public Lands, National Parks.
Source: Committee
26 March 1987
Introduced
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Source: IntroReferral
26 March 1987
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
Source: IntroReferral
22 September 1987
Committee
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources requested executive comment from Interior Department, OMB, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Source: Committee
29 September 1987
Committee
Subcommittee on Public Lands, National Parks. Hearings held.
Source: Committee
2 December 1987
Reported
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Source: Committee
9 December 1987
Calendars
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 470.
Source: Calendars
9 December 1987
Reported
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported to Senate by Senator Johnston with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 100-241.
Source: Committee
9 December 1987
Reported
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported to Senate by Senator Johnston with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 100-241.
Source: Committee
19 December 1987
Passed
Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
Source: Floor
19 December 1987
Passed
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
Source: Floor
20 December 1987
Introduced
Referred to House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs.
Source: IntroReferral
20 December 1987
Floor
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Source: Floor
7 January 1988
Referred
Referred to Subcommittee on Oceanography.
Source: Committee
7 January 1988
Committee
Executive Comment Requested from DOT, DOD, State, Commerce, Justice, Interior.
Source: Committee
26 January 1988
Referred
Referred to Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands.
Source: Committee
4 February 1988
Committee
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Source: Committee
18 February 1988
Committee
Executive Comment Received From State.
Source: Committee
18 February 1988
Committee
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee.
Source: Committee
18 February 1988
Committee
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Source: Committee
22 February 1988
Committee
Favorable Executive Comment Received From Commerce.
Source: Committee
24 February 1988
Reported
Ordered to be Reported.
Source: Committee
24 February 1988
Committee
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Source: Committee
25 February 1988
Committee
Executive Comment Received From State.
Source: Committee
14 March 1988
Reported
Reported to House by House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. Report No: 100-514 (Part I).
Source: Committee
14 March 1988
Reported
Reported to House by House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. Report No: 100-514 (Part I).
Source: Committee
23 March 1988
Reported
Ordered to be Reported.
Source: Committee
23 March 1988
Committee
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Source: Committee
23 March 1988
Committee
Subcommittee on Oceanography Discharged.
Source: Committee
28 March 1988
Floor
Called up by House Under Suspension of Rules.
Source: Floor
28 March 1988
Calendars
Placed on Union Calendar No: 330.
Source: Calendars
28 March 1988
Reported
Reported to House by House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries. Report No: 100-514 (Part II).
Source: Committee
28 March 1988
Reported
Reported to House by House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries. Report No: 100-514 (Part II).
Source: Committee
29 March 1988
Vote
Failed to Receive 2/3's Vote to Suspend and Pass by Yea-Nay Vote: 263 - 139 (Record Vote No: 46).
Source: Floor
29 March 1988
Vote
Failed of passage/not agreed to in House: Failed to Receive 2/3's Vote to Suspend and Pass by Yea-Nay Vote: 263 - 139 (Record Vote No: 46).
Source: Floor
30 March 1988
Reported
Rules Committee Resolution H.Res.421 Reported to House.
Source: Floor
30 March 1988
Floor
Committee on Rules Granted an Open Rule Providing One Hour of General Debate.
Source: Floor
13 April 1988
Vote
Passed House by Yea-Nay Vote: 340 - 64 (Record Vote No: 54).
Source: Floor
13 April 1988
Vote
Passed/agreed to in House: Passed House by Yea-Nay Vote: 340 - 64 (Record Vote No: 54).
Source: Floor
13 April 1988
Floor
Called up by House by Rule.
Source: Floor
13 April 1988
Passed
Rule Passed House.
Source: Floor
19 April 1988
President
Presented to President.
Source: President
19 April 1988
Floor
Measure Signed in Senate.
Source: Floor
19 April 1988
Floor
Presented to President.
Source: Floor
28 April 1988
Became law
Became Public Law No: 100-298.
Source: President
28 April 1988
President
Signed by President.
Source: President
28 April 1988
Became law
Signed by President.
Source: BecameLaw
Votes
No vote records are attached yet.
Versions
No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.
Documents
4 official files
Public Law (PDF)
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Leesvertaling
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Public Law (PDF)
Public Law · EN · 29 April 1988
Passed Senate amended
summary · EN · 19 December 1987
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Reported to Senate with amendment(s)
summary · EN · 9 December 1987
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Introduced in Senate
summary · EN · 26 March 1987
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Sponsors
- Sen. Bradley, Bill [D-NJ] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Pell, Claiborne [D-RI] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Hecht, Chic [R-NV] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Graham, Bob [D-FL] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Bentsen, Lloyd M. [D-TX] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Stafford, Robert T. [R-VT] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Inouye, Daniel K. [D-HI] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Mikulski, Barbara A. [D-MD] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Chiles, Lawton [D-FL] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Chafee, John H. [R-RI] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Gramm, Phil [R-TX] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Fowler, Wyche, Jr. [D-GA] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Stevens, Ted [R-AK] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Gore, Albert, Jr. [D-TN] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Murkowski, Frank H. [R-AK] · R · Cosponsor
- · hsmm00 · Standing
- · hsii00 · Standing
- · sseg00 · Standing
Related records
- related to → Abandoned Shipwreck Act of 1987
- related to → Abandoned Historic Shipwreck Protection Act of 1987
- related to → A resolution providing for the consideration of the bill (S. 858) to establish the title of States in certain abandoned shipwrecks, and for other purposes.
- amends ← An amendment to protect shipwrecks and their sites while allowing recreational exploration of such sites provided that no harm is done to the shipwreck and the surrounding environment. The amendment also requires that the rights of access contained in the bill's declaration of Congressional policy are considered to be binding on the States and provides for judicial review in the event that the States are not complying with those guidelines.
- amends ← An amendement to limit the scope of the bill by conveying to the states only those shipwrecks of historical importance in state submerged waters that are included in, or eligible for, the National Register of Historic Places.
- amends ← An amendment to specify that nothing in the Act establishing protective zones shall be contrued as preventing law enforcement agencies from investigating or enforcing narcotics laws.
Related across the Repo ecosystem
Direct relationships are identifier-backed. Topic context means shared TopicMembership — not a citation and not causation.
Direct relationships
- Legal framework · Abandoned Shipwreck Act of 1987 · S. 858 (100th) · US
- Identifier matchPROJECTS_FROM
Same us record 100-s-858 projected from PoliticalRepo US row.
Sources
PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.
- Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/100th-congress/senate-bill/858
- Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/100/s/858
- us · 100-s-858 · source updated 24 March 2026