Freedom to Fish Act

Freedom to Fish Act - Prohibits the Chief of the Army Corps of Engineers from taking any action (after August 1, 2012) to establish a restricted area prohibiting public access to waters downstream of a dam owned by the Corps. Requires the Chief to cease implementing any restricted area resulting from such action taken between August 12, 2012, and the date of enactment of this Act and to remove any barriers constructed in connection with that area.

Provides that installing and maintaining sirens, strobe lights, and signage for alerting the public of hazardous water conditions shall not be considered to be an action to establish a restricted area.

[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 421 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 421

To prohibit the Corps of Engineers from taking any action to establish 
 a restricted area prohibiting public access to waters downstream of a 
                      dam, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           February 28, 2013

 Mr. Alexander (for himself, Mr. McConnell, Mr. Corker, and Mr. Paul) 
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
               Committee on Environment and Public Works

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To prohibit the Corps of Engineers from taking any action to establish 
 a restricted area prohibiting public access to waters downstream of a 
                      dam, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Freedom to Fish Act''.

SEC. 2. RESTRICTED AREAS AT CORPS OF ENGINEERS DAMS.

    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, shall not 
take any action to establish a restricted area prohibiting public 
access to waters downstream of a dam owned by the Corps of Engineers.
    (b) Exclusion.--For purposes of this Act, installing and 
maintaining sirens, strobe lights, and signage for alerting the public 
of hazardous water conditions shall not be considered to be an action 
to establish a restricted area under subsection (a).
    (c) Effective Date.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), this section 
        shall apply to an action described in subsection (a) on or 
        after August 1, 2012.
            (2) Existing restrictions.--If the Secretary of the Army, 
        acting through the Chief of Engineers, has taken an action 
        described in subsection (a) during the period beginning on 
        August 1, 2012, and ending on the date of enactment of this 
        Act, the Secretary shall--
                    (A) cease implementing the restricted area 
                resulting from the action; and
                    (B) remove any barriers constructed in connection 
                with the restricted area.
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