Solar Power Satellite Research, Development and Evaluation Program Act of 1979
Latest action. Referred jointly to Senate Committees on Commerce, Science, and Transportation; and Energy and Natural Resources.
(Measure passed House, amended, roll call #673 (201-146)) Solar Power Satellite Research, Development and Evaluation Program Act of 1979 - Establishes a Solar Power Satellite Research, Development and Evaluation Program to determine the feasibility of a satellite-based solar energy system. Establishes an office within the Department of Energy to manage such program. Directs the Secretary of Energy and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to initiate such program by carrying out research designed to resolve technical, environmental, and socioeconomic issues regarding the viability of the solar power satellite concept. Sets forth the duties of the Secretary in conducting such program, and requires that the Secretary submit to the Congress a comprehensive plan for such program and for continuing research and development on a solar power satellite.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Passed House amended" stage on November 16, 1979. It describes the bill, it is not the legal text.
Where is it in the process, and what happens next?
4 steps remain before this bill could become law.
The record's latest action, on November 20, 1979: Referred jointly to Senate Committees on Commerce, Science, and Transportation; and Energy and Natural Resources.
- Clearing the committees it was referred to, and being scheduled for a floor vote
- Passage by the House
- Passage by the Senate
- The President's signature. If the President vetoes it, two-thirds of both chambers must vote to override.
How likely is it to become law?
Civibrief does not forecast outcomes and this page has no opinion about this one. What the record supports is a base rate, which is a fact about the whole pile, not a prediction about this measure.
In the 96th Congress (1979-80), 613 of the 12,581 bills and joint resolutions introduced became law, about 4.9 percent. That count covers every measure at every stage, including the many that never left committee.
This one is not there yet: 4 steps are still outstanding, listed above.
Has anyone actually voted on it?
No. No roll call in this Congress cites this measure. That is the ordinary outcome: most measures never reach a recorded floor vote, and a committee ends most of them simply by not acting.
A vote is not the only thing that happens to a measure. Hearings, markups, and referrals are all recorded actions, and none of them is a vote of the full chamber.
Who is behind it?
RONNIE FLIPPO (D-AL) introduced it on February 22, 1979, and 18 members have since signed on as cosponsors.
They come from both major parties: 11 Democrats, 7 Republicans.
Cosponsoring is a formal signature on the text. It is not a commitment to vote for the measure, it does not bind anyone's party, and a long list of cosponsors is a measure of attention rather than of prospects.
How long has it been in play?
It was introduced on February 22, 1979, 17414 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 17143 days ago, on November 20, 1979.
Measures do not carry over. Anything the 96th Congress has not finished by January 3, 1981 dies when the term ends, and has to be introduced again from the start in the next Congress.
Every answer above is assembled from this measure's own record on Congress.gov and from published counts of what Congress has passed before. Civibrief does not predict outcomes and takes no position on any measure.
Vote history
- HouseIn committee, no floor vote yet
- SenateAwaits House passage
- PresidentAwaits both chambers