How Frank's Bill Became a Law

The Small Watershed Rehabilitation Amendments of 2000

During the 106th Congress, I introduced and sponsored H.R. 728, the Small Watershed Rehabilitation Amendments of 2000. H.R. 728 amended the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to provide much needed financial assistance to a local organization to cover a portion of the total costs incurred for the rehabilitation of structural measures of a covered water resource project for Fiscal Year 2001 through Fiscal Year 2005.

H.R. 728 was passed by the House of Representatives during the 106th Congress; however, it did not become a law until the next Congress, as it was not acted upon by the Senate during the 106th Congress. In the 107th Congress, all the provisions from H.R. 728 were included in H.R. 4788, the Grain Standards and Warehouse Improvement Act of 2000. H.R. 4788 was passed by both the House and the Senate and was signed by President Bill Clinton. On November 9, 2000, H.R. 4788 became Public Law Number 106-472. Below you can see the specific steps which H.R. 728 had to take to become a law.

H.R. 728, the Small Watershed Rehabilitation Amendments of 2000

Sponsor: Representative Frank D. Lucas

February 11, 1999

• H.R. 728, The Small Watershed Rehabilitation Amendments of 2000 is introduced.
• It is referred to the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

February 22, 1999

• H.R. 728 is referred to the appropriate subcommittees within each full committee, the House Transportation’s Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment and the House Agriculture’s Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Resource Conservation, and Credit.

April 15, 1999

• The Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Resource Conservation, and Credit holds hearings on H.R. 728.

July 20, 1999

• The Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Resource Conservation, and Credit holds a mark-up on H.R. 728.
• As a result of the mark-up, H.R. 728 is forwarded to the Full Agriculture Committee.

September 24, 1999

• The Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment holds hearings on H.R. 728

November 10, 1999

• Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment holds a mark-up on H.R. 728.
• As a result of the mark-up, H.R. 728 is forwarded to the Full Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

November 18, 1999

• H.R. 728 is reported and amended by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

October 27, 1999

• The House Agriculture Committee holds a mark-up on H.R. 728.
• As a result, H.R. 728 is ordered to be reported to the full House of Representatives by voice vote.

July 17, 2000

• Debate and votes held on consideration of H.R. 728.
• H.R. 728 was agreed to by voice vote and sent to the U.S. Senate.

July 27, 2000

• Read by the Senate and placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar.

No further action was taken on H.R. 728 in the Senate. Therefore, provisions from H.R. 728 were folded into H.R. 4788, the Grain Standards and Warehouse Improvement Act of 2000 sponsored by Representative Bill Barrett.

June 29, 2000

• H.R. 4788, the Grain Standards and Warehouse Improvement Act of 2000 is introduced.
• It is referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

July 17, 2000

• H. R. 4788 is referred to the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Resource Conservation, and Credit.

July 25, 2000

• The Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Resource Conservation, and Credit holds a mark-up on H.R. 4788.
• As a result of the mark-up, H.R. 4788 is forwarded to the Full Agriculture Committee.

October 10, 2000

• H.R. 4788 bypasses a Full Agriculture Committee mark-up and is considered on the House Floor under suspension.The motion to suspend the rules passes and H.R. 4788 is agreed to by a voice vote.

October 11, 2000

• H.R. 4788 is received in the Senate and read twice.

October 12, 2000

• The Senate considers H.R. 4788, adds one amendment, and passes by unanimous consent.

October 17, 2000

• H.R. 4788 returns to the House, where it is agreed to including the Senate amendment.

November 1, 2000

• H.R. 4788 is presented to President George W. Bush for his approval.

November 9, 2000

• H.R. 4788 is signed by President George W. Bush, becoming Public Law Number 106-472.