Martin's Cove Land Transfer Act
Latest action. Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Martin's Cove Land Transfer Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to offer to convey to the Corporation of the Presiding Bishop specified public lands (Martin's Cove in Natrona County, Wyoming) for the purposes of public education, historic preservation, and enhanced recreational enjoyment of the public. Requires the Corporation to pay the United States the historic fair market value of the property conveyed, including any improvements. Directs the Secretary and the Corporation to enter into an agreement, binding on any successor or assignee, that ensures that the property conveyed shall, consistent with the site's historic purposes: (1) be available in perpetuity for public education and historic preservation; and (2) provide to the public, in perpetuity and without charge, access to the property. Directs the Secretary to require that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and its current or future affiliated corporations grant the United States a right of first refusal to acquire the property at historic fair market value if the Church or any of its corporations seeks to dispose of it. Requires that the proceeds of this conveyance be used exclusively by the National Trails Interpretive Center Foundation, Inc., to advance the public understanding and enjoyment of the National Historic Trails System. Provides for funds to be used by the Foundation only for the following purposes and according to the following priority: (1) to complete construction of the exhibits connected with the opening of the National Historic Trails Center; and (2) to maintain, acquire, and further enhance the Center's exhibits, artistic representations, historic artifacts, and grounds. States that this Act does not set a precedent for the resolution of land sales between or among private entities and the United States.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Passed House amended" stage on June 17, 2002. 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 June 18, 2002: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 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 107th Congress (2001-02), 377 of the 9,126 bills and joint resolutions introduced became law, about 4.1 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?
JAMES HANSEN (R-UT) introduced it on April 9, 2002, and 8 members have since signed on as cosponsors.
They come from both major parties: 3 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 April 9, 2002, 8968 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 8898 days ago, on June 18, 2002.
Measures do not carry over. Anything the 107th Congress has not finished by January 3, 2003 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