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H.R. 1688 102nd Congress House

Omnibus Insular Areas Act of 1991

Official title: Entitled the "Omnibus Insular Areas Act of 1991".

Introduced: April 10, 1991 See on congress.gov
Government Operations and Politics Agricultural collegesAgriculture and FoodAirlinesAlternative energy sources
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American SamoaAmerican technical assistanceCongressional reporting requirementsDisaster reliefEconomic developmentEnergy assistance for the poorEnergy conservationEnergy efficiencyEnvironmental ProtectionFederal advisory bodiesFederal aid to educationGovernment lendingGovernment procurementGuamHistoric sitesHurricanesInfrastructure (Economics)Manpower training programsMarshall IslandsMicronesiaNational parksNorthern Mariana IslandsParksPower resourcesPublic assistance programsPuerto RicoSewage disposalTechnical assistanceTerritories (U.S.)Trust Territory of the Pacific IslandsVirgin IslandsWater supply
This bill died when the 102nd Congress ended
It never became law before the 102nd Congress (1991–1992) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 21 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jan 31, 1992
See H.R.2927.
Nov 27, 1991
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Nov 25, 1991
Received in the Senate.
Nov 25, 1991
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Nov 25, 1991
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
Nov 25, 1991
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
Nov 25, 1991
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate.
Nov 25, 1991
Considered under suspension of the rules.
Nov 25, 1991
Mr. de Lugo moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Oct 2, 1991
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 138.
Oct 2, 1991
Committee on Public Works + Transportation discharged.
Oct 1, 1991
Referred sequentially to the House Committee on Public Works + Transportation for a period ending not later than Oct. 2, 1991 for consideration of such provisions of the bill and amendment as fall within the jurisdiction of that committee pursuant to clause 1(p) of rule X.
Oct 1, 1991
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. H. Rept. 102-232, Part I.
Jul 17, 1991
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jul 17, 1991
Ordered to be Reported (Amended).
Jul 16, 1991
Executive Comment Received from Interior.
Jun 25, 1991
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended).
Jun 25, 1991
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Apr 22, 1991
Referred to the Subcommittee On Insular and International Affairs.
Apr 10, 1991
Referred to the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs.
Apr 10, 1991
Introduced in House
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 Latest action January 31, 1992

See H.R.2927.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Omnibus Insular Areas Act of 1991 - Title I: Insular Areas Disaster Survival and Recovery Act of 1991 - Insular Areas Disaster Survival and Recovery Act of 1991 - Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of the Interior for the construction of facilities to protect public health and safety and to enhance the survivability of essential infrastructure in the event of disasters in insular areas.

Requires the President to provide technical assistance to insular areas which lack specific capabilities in responding to disasters. Directs the Secretary to report to specified congressional committees on the status of recovery efforts in insular areas declared to be disasters by the President.

Requires that the total contributions under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act for insular areas not exceed ten percent of the estimated aggregate amount of grants to be made under such Act for any disaster, except that in the case of Hurricane Hugo, September 1989, the total contribution shall not exceed 25 percent of the estimated aggregate amount of such grant.

Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to make the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands eligible for relief and assistance.

Title II: Insular Areas Water, Sewage, and Power Needs - Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to study how the long-term water, sewage, and power needs of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and the Virgin Islands can be resolved.

Amends Federal law to authorize appropriations for each fiscal year to the Secretary of Energy for grants to insular area governments to carry out projects to evaluate the feasibility of, develop options for, and encourage the adoption of efficiency and renewable energy measures which reduce the dependency of such areas on imported fuels, and improve the quality of life in the area. Sets forth factors to determine the amount to be provided for such grants.

Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Authorizes American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and the Virgin Islands to make purchases through the General Services Administration.

States that a Freely Associated State Air Carrier shall not be precluded from transportation of persons and property procured, contracted for, or otherwise obtained by a Federal agency or instrumentality under an agreement whereby the agency or instrumentality pays for such transportation without provision for reimbursement.

Amends the Compact of Free Association Act of 1985 to extend the Marshall Islands agricultural and food assistance programs for an additional five years.

Amends Federal law to authorize the Northern Marianas College to receive the same $3,000,000 endowment authorized for land grant institutions in other insular areas.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 4 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1688: Omnibus Insular Areas Act of 1991. 102nd Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-1688/
MLA
"H.R. 1688: Omnibus Insular Areas Act of 1991." 102nd Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-1688/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1688, 102nd Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-1688/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1688: Omnibus Insular Areas Act of 1991](https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-1688/)
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