PSI Sci
New here? Follow the money and the votes · Not sure of your district? Find your U.S. House member · Find your state legislators

H.R. 289: Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Complex Expansion and Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge Expansion Act

Before you vote › Federal bills

H.R. 289: Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Complex Expansion and Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge Expansion Act

108th Congress · introduced 2003-01-08 · Public Lands and Natural Resources · Latest: Became Public Law No: 108-23.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2003-01-08 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Became Public Law No: 108-23. (final step reached)
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Complex Expansion and Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge Expansion Act

Plain summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed in the House on April 1, 2003. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Complex Expansion and Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge Expansion Act - (Sec. 4) Expands the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Complex to include specified land and water in the State of Ohio. Permits the Secretary of the Interior to acquire by donation, purchase, or exchange the land and water and interests in land and water within the boundaries of the Complex. Directs the Secretary, acting through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, to study and report to Congress on fish and wildlife habitat and aquatic and terrestrial communities in and around two specified dredge spoil disposal sites in Toledo Harbor. (Sec. 5) Expands the southern boundary of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge (the Refuge) to include additional land and water located in the State of Michigan east of Interstate Route 75. (Sec. 6) Prescribes requirements for administration of the Complex. Directs the Secretary to administer all Federally owned land, water, and interests in land and water that are located within the boundaries of the Complex in accordance with this Act and the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966. States that the Complex shall be managed to strengthen and complement existing resource management, conservation, and education programs and activities in order to facilitate: (1) the provision of major resting, feeding, and wintering habits for migratory birds and other wildlife; and (2) the enhancement of national resource conservation and management in the western basin. States other purposes for which the Complex shall be managed, including to protect and restore the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Great Lakes basin ecosystem. Directs the Secretary to ensure that hunting, trapping, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, and environmental education and interpretation shall be the priority public uses of the Complex. (Sec. 7) Authorizes appropriations.

Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Complex Expansion and Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge Expansion Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law)

AI explanation – may be wrong, check the official text

No AI explanation yet. It takes up to a minute to write and is then saved for everyone.

Limited to a few requests an hour per person.

The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Arguments against (opponents)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Alternatives

Needs sources: no published alternatives yet (for example a different bill, a law instead of an amendment, or keeping current law). We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9] · 1 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9] reported raising $5.9 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)
Appropriation
Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong108-hr289 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong108 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong108