Deep Seabed Hard Minerals Act
Latest action. Referred to House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries.
Deep Seabed Hard Minerals Act - Sets forth the findings of Congress and the purposes of the Act. Defines the terms used in the Act. Declares that, except as authorized pursuant to the provisions of this Act or under a treaty ratified by the United States, no person subject to the jurisdiction of the United States shall engage directly or indirectly in the development of hard mineral resources of the deep seabed. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to accept applications from and to issue licenses to eligible applicants for the development of hard mineral resources of the deep seabed. Sets forth the provisions for the issuing of such licenses. Declares that in no event shall any license under this Act authorize the commercial recovery of such resources prior to January 1, 1976, and that except to the extent that such licenses are authorized pursuant to the provisions of an international agreement establishing a regime for the development of mineral resources of the international seabed area beyond the limits of coastal State territorial or resource jurisdiction, no licenses shall be issued under this Act subsequent to the ratification by the United States of any such international agreement. Provides that every license issued under this Act shall remain in force for 10 years. Makes provisions for licensing procedures under this Act. Requires the Secretary of the Interior, prior to the issuance of any license under this Act, to establish and apply criteria for evaluating the potential impact on the marine environment of deep seabed hard mineral mining operation. Sets forth a table of minimum expenditures per licensed block until commercial recovery from such block is initiated. Authorizes the Secretary to begin commercial recovery and for the withdrawal of areas from licensing. Makes the provisions for investment guaranty and insurance through the Secretary of Commerce. Provides a civil penalty of $10,000 per day during which violations of this Act occur and a criminal penalty of $25,000 per day for willful and knowing violations of this Act. Authorizes to be appropriated for the current fiscal year and the two succeeding fiscal years such sums as may be necessary for the administration of this Act. Authorizes necessary appropriations for fiscal years 1976 - 1978 for the implementations of the investment quaranty provisions of this Act.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Introduced in House" stage on January 23, 1974. It describes the bill, it is not the legal text.
Where is it in the process, and what happens next?
4 steps remain before this bill could become law.
The record's latest action, on January 23, 1974: Referred to House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries.
- Clearing the committees it was referred to, and being scheduled for a floor vote
- Passage by the House
- Passage by the Senate
- The President's signature. If the President vetoes it, two-thirds of both chambers must vote to override.
How likely is it to become law?
Civibrief does not forecast outcomes and this page has no opinion about this one. What the record supports is a base rate, which is a fact about the whole pile, not a prediction about this measure.
In the 93rd Congress (1973-74), 651 of the 23,396 bills and joint resolutions introduced became law, about 2.8 percent. That count covers every measure at every stage, including the many that never left committee.
This one is not there yet: 4 steps are still outstanding, listed above.
Has anyone actually voted on it?
No. No roll call in this Congress cites this measure. That is the ordinary outcome: most measures never reach a recorded floor vote, and a committee ends most of them simply by not acting.
A vote is not the only thing that happens to a measure. Hearings, markups, and referrals are all recorded actions, and none of them is a vote of the full chamber.
Who is behind it?
THOMAS DOWNING (D-VA) introduced it on January 23, 1974, and 12 members have since signed on as cosponsors.
They come from both major parties: 7 Democrats, 5 Republicans.
Cosponsoring is a formal signature on the text. It is not a commitment to vote for the measure, it does not bind anyone's party, and a long list of cosponsors is a measure of attention rather than of prospects.
How long has it been in play?
It was introduced on January 23, 1974, 19223 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 19223 days ago, on January 23, 1974.
Measures do not carry over. Anything the 93rd Congress has not finished by January 3, 1975 dies when the term ends, and has to be introduced again from the start in the next Congress.
Every answer above is assembled from this measure's own record on Congress.gov and from published counts of what Congress has passed before. Civibrief does not predict outcomes and takes no position on any measure.
Vote history
- HouseIn committee, no floor vote yet
- SenateAwaits House passage
- PresidentAwaits both chambers