Skip to main content
H.R. 883 106th Congress House

American Land Sovereignty Protection Act

Official title: To preserve the sovereignty of the United States over public lands and acquired lands owned by the United States, and to preserve State sovereignty and private… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To preserve the sovereignty of the United States over public lands and acquired lands owned by the United States, and to preserve State sovereignty and private property rights in non-Federal lands surrounding those public lands and acquired lands.

Introduced: March 1, 1999 See on congress.gov
Public Lands and Natural Resources Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesCommemorationsCongressCongress and foreign policy
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Congressional oversightCongressional reporting requirementsCongressional-Presidential relationsCongressional-executive relationsEconomic impact statementsEconomics and Public FinanceElementary and secondary educationEnvironmental ProtectionFederal-local relationsFederal-state relationsGovernment Operations and PoliticsHistoric sitesHistoryInternational AffairsInternational environmental cooperationLand useLegislationLegislative resolutionsLocal lawsLocal taxationMan and the Biosphere ProgrammeMarine and coastal resources, fisheriesMarine resources conservationNatural areasNature conservationNongovernmental organizationsPublic schoolsRight of propertyState lawsState taxationStates' rightsTaxationTreatiesTreaty-making powerUnited Nations
This bill died when the 106th Congress ended
It never became law before the 106th Congress (1999–2000) 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 28 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 20, 1999
Received in the Senate and read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
May 20, 1999
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
May 20, 1999
On passage Passed by voice vote.
May 20, 1999
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by voice vote.
May 20, 1999
The House adopted the amendment as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
May 20, 1999
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
May 20, 1999
The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 883.
May 20, 1999
ORDER OF BUSINESS - The Chair announced that recorded votes postponed earlier will occur in the following order: The amendment offered by Mr. Vento; the amendment offered by Mr. Udall of Colorado; and the amendment offered by Mr. Sweeney, as amended.
May 20, 1999
POSTPONED VOTE ON THE SWEENEY AMENDMENT - The Chair put the question on agreeing to the amendment offered by Mr. Sweeney, as amended, and announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Young of Alaska objected to the voice vote pending the absence of a quorum. Further proceedings on the amendment were postponed and the point of no quorum was considered as withdrawn.
May 20, 1999
POSTPONED VOTE ON UDALL OF COLORADO AMENDMENT - The Chair put the question on agreeing to the amendment offered by Mr. Udall of Colorado and announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Udall of Colorado objected to the voice vote pending the absence of a quorum. Further proceedings on the amendment were postponed and the point of no quorum was considered as withdrawn.
May 20, 1999
POSTPONED VOTE ON VENTO AMENDMENT - The Chair put the question on agreeing to the amendment offered by Mr. Vento and announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Vento objected to the voice vote pending the absence of a quorum. Further proceedings on the amendment were postponed and the point of no quorum was considered as withdrawn.
May 20, 1999
DEBATE ON AMENDMENTS - Pursuant to the rule debate on all amendments is limited to four hours.
May 20, 1999
GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 883.
May 20, 1999
The Speaker designated the Honorable Cliff Stearns to act as Chairman of the Committee.
May 20, 1999
House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 180 and Rule XXIII.
May 20, 1999
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 883 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Bill is open to amendments. After general debate the bill shall be considered for amendment under the five-minute rule for a period not to exceed four hours. No amendment shall be in order except those printed in the portion of the Congressional Record designated for that purpose. Each amendment may be offered only by the Member who caused it to be printed or his designee and shall be considered as read.
May 20, 1999
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 180. (consideration: CR H3402-3425)
May 20, 1999
Rule H. Res. 180 passed House.
May 19, 1999
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 180 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 883 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Bill is open to amendments. After general debate the bill shall be considered for amendment under the five-minute rule for a period not to exceed four hours. No amendment shall be in order except those printed in the portion of the Congressional Record designated for that purpose. Each amendment may be offered only by the Member who caused it to be printed or his designee and shall be considered as read.
May 13, 1999
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 81.
May 13, 1999
Reported by the Committee on Resources. H. Rept. 106-142.
May 5, 1999
Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 26 - 14.
May 5, 1999
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Mar 18, 1999
Committee Hearings Held.
Mar 4, 1999
Executive Comment Requested from Interior, State.
Mar 1, 1999
Referred to the House Committee on Resources.
Mar 1, 1999
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E297-298)
Mar 1, 1999
Introduced in House
 Amendments to this bill 5

Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.

4 agreed to 1 failed

AmendmentSponsorPurposeStatusLatest action
HAMDT 119 – An amendment to specify that the Biosphere Reserve management plan should ensure that the designation does no… Agreed to May 20, 1999
HAMDT 118 – An amendment numbered four and printed in the Congressional Record to require that the management plan specif… Agreed to May 20, 1999
HAMDT 117 – An amendment numbered 5 and printed in the Congressional Record to exclude Biosphere Reserves in Colorado fro… Failed May 20, 1999
HAMDT 116 – An amendment numbered nine and printed in the Congressional Record to prohibit a Federal official from enteri… Agreed to May 20, 1999
HAMDT 115 – An amendment numbered ten and printed in the Congressional Record to extend the deadline for Congressional au… Agreed to May 20, 1999
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Latest action May 20, 1999

Received in the Senate and read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

American Land Sovereignty Protection Act - Amends the National Historic Preservation Act Amendments of 1980 to prohibit the Secretary of the Interior from nominating any Federal lands for inclusion on the World Heritage List pursuant to the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage unless: (1) the Secretary publishes a finding that commercially viable uses of nominated lands and lands within ten miles of them will not be adversely affected by such inclusion; (2) the Secretary has reported to the Congress on the lands' natural resources and the impact that the inclusion would have on existing and future uses of such lands; and (3) such nomination is specifically authorized by a law. Authorizes the President to submit proposals for legislation authorizing such a nomination after publication of the Secretary's finding.

Requires the Secretary to object to the inclusion of any property in the United States on the list of World Heritage in Danger (established under the Convention) unless the Secretary: (1) has reported to the Congress on the necessity for such inclusion, the natural resources associated with the property, and the impact such inclusion would have on existing and future uses of such property; and (2) is specifically authorized to assent to the inclusion by a joint resolution of the Congress enacted after the report is submitted. Directs the Secretary to submit an annual report to specified congressional committees on the management of each World Heritage Site within the United States.

(Sec. 4) Prohibits any Federal official from nominating any lands in the United States for designation as a Biosphere Reserve under the Man and Biosphere Program of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. Provides that any such designation before enactment of this Act shall not have any force or effect, unless the Biosphere Reserve: (1) is specifically authorized by a law enacted before December 31, 2000; (2) consists solely of federally owned lands; and (3) is subject to a management plan that specifically ensures that the use of intermixed or adjacent non-Federal property is not limited or restricted as a result of that designation. Directs the Secretary of State to report annually to specified congressional committees information on the management of each Biosphere Reserve within the United States.

(Sec. 5) Prohibits any Federal official from nominating, classifying, or designating any Federal land located within the United States for a special or restricted use under any international agreement for conserving, preserving, or protecting the terrestrial or marine environment, flora, or fauna (with specified exceptions) unless specifically authorized by law, but authorizes the Secretary to submit proposals for authorizing legislation. Provides that any such nomination, classification, or designation of private or State or local lands shall have no force or effect without the owner's consent or specific authorization by State or local law, respectively.

 Related & companion bills 3
 Bill text 4 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 883: American Land Sovereignty Protection Act. 106th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-883/
MLA
"H.R. 883: American Land Sovereignty Protection Act." 106th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-883/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 883, 106th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-883/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 883: American Land Sovereignty Protection Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-883/)
Report a problem