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H.R. 5247 97th Congress House

A bill directing the Secretary of Defense to exercise complete control over the Panama Canal unless and until an appropriate committee in Congress determines, or the basis of an investigation that…

Official title: A bill directing the Secretary of Defense to exercise complete control over the Panama Canal unless and until an appropriate committee in Congress determines, … Show full official titleShow less

Official title: A bill directing the Secretary of Defense to exercise complete control over the Panama Canal unless and until an appropriate committee in Congress determines, or the basis of an investigation that the Government of Panama did not engage in certain acts not in the national security interests of the United States.

Introduced: December 16, 1981 See on congress.gov
Congress Congress and CongressmenCongressional investigationsCongressional oversightInternational AffairsPanama
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This bill died when the 97th Congress ended
It never became law before the 97th Congress (1981–1982) 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 8 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 16, 1982
Unfavorable Executive Comment Received From DOT.
Mar 19, 1982
Unfavorable Executive Comment Received From DOD.
Feb 19, 1982
Unfavorable Executive Comment Received From State.
Feb 18, 1982
Unfavorable Executive Comment Received From Panama Canal Comm.
Jan 5, 1982
Referred to Subcommittee on Panama Canal and Outer Continental Shelf.
Jan 5, 1982
Executive Comment Requested from DOD, DOT, Panama Canal Comm, State.
Dec 16, 1981
Referred to House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries.
Dec 16, 1981
Introduced in House
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 Latest action April 16, 1982

Unfavorable Executive Comment Received From DOT.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Directs the Secretary of Defense to exercise complete control over the Panama Canal. Requires specified House and Senate committees to report to Congress on whether Panama acted in bad faith or contrary to the national security interests of the United States during the negotiations of the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 and before the enactment of the Panama Canal Act of 1979. Directs the Secretary to transfer control over the Canal to the Panama Canal Commission if the committees determine that the Panamanian Government did not act in bad faith or contrary to the national security interests of the United States.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 5247: A bill directing the Secretary of Defense to exercise complete control over the Panama Canal unless and until an appropriate committee in Congress determines, or the basis of an investigation that the Government of Panama did not engage in certain acts not in the national security interests of the United States.. 97th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/97-HR-5247/
MLA
"H.R. 5247: A bill directing the Secretary of Defense to exercise complete control over the Panama Canal unless and until an appropriate committee in Congress determines, or the basis of an investigation that the Government of Panama did not engage in certain acts not in the national security interests of the United States.." 97th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/97-HR-5247/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5247, 97th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/97-HR-5247/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 5247: A bill directing the Secretary of Defense to exercise complete control over the Panama Canal unless and until an appropriate committee in Congress determines, or the basis of an investigation that the Government of Panama did not engage in certain acts not in the national security interests of the United States.](https://openamerica.io/bill/97-HR-5247/)
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