S. 982: Freedom to Fish Act
Before you vote › Federal bills
S. 982: Freedom to Fish Act
113th Congress · introduced 2013-05-16 · Water Resources Development · Latest: Became Public Law No: 113-13.
federal
Follow this bill, step by step
- Where it came from: introduced 2013-05-16 · official record
- Who proposed it: Sen. Alexander, Lamar [R-TN] · what a sponsor is
- What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
- Where it stands now: Became Public Law No: 113-13. (final step reached)
- If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.
Official title
Freedom to Fish Act
Plain summary
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the Senate passed version is repeated here.) Freedom to Fish Act - Requires the Chief of the Army Corps of Engineers to: (1) cease implementing and enforcing, until two years after enactment of this Act, any restricted area for hazardous waters at dams and other civil works structures in the Cumberland River Basin that the Chief established or modified between August 1, 2012, and the day before the enactment of this Act; and (2) remove any permanent physical barriers constructed in connection with such area. Requires the Chief, before establishing any such restricted area after this Act's enactment, to: (1) ensure that any restrictions are based on operational conditions that create hazardous waters, and (2) publish and seek and consider public comment on a draft describing the restricted area. Prohibits the Chief from: (1) implementing or enforcing the restricted area until two years after this Act's enactment, or (2) taking any action to establish a permanent physical barrier in connection with such area. (Excludes the installation and maintenance of measures for alerting the public of hazardous water conditions as such a permanent physical barrier.) Makes enforcement of a restricted area the sole responsibility of the state in which such area is located. Prohibits the Chief from assessing any penalty for entering a restricted area of public park and recreational facilities at water resource development projects.
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)
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: Sen. Alexander, Lamar [R-TN] · 3 cosponsors
Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.
Cosponsors on this site
Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Rand Paul (R-KY)
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)
- Public comment
- A chance for anyone to tell a government agency what they think about a proposed rule or plan before it is final. Agencies must consider the comments they receive.
Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.
Sources
- Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law)
- Congress.gov
- Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-113s982.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/113/s>
Record fed-us-cong113-s982 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong113 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong113