Economic Diversification Act of 1979
Latest action. Referred to House Committee on Rules.
Economic Diversification Act of 1979 - Establishes the Office of Economic Diversification within the Economic Development Administration of the Department of Commerce. Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce, through such Office, to provide: (1) to an area which proves that its economic well-being is dependent on one or more defense contracts, technical assistance for developing a plan for diversifying its industries and reducing its dependence on such contracts; and (2) under specified conditions, financial assistance to such an area for any project to implement such a plan for which funding has been refused by another Federal department or agency solely because of lack of funds. Directs such department or agency to furnish to the Secretary information concerning such project and the area's qualifications for receiving assistance. Requires each area which receives financial assistance under this Act to report annually to the Secretary, who shall report to Congress, on the effectiveness of such assistance. Directs the Secretary to issue regulations establishing criteria for determining whether the economic well-being of an area depends on one or more defense contracts. States that each regulation shall become effective 60 days after submission unless either House of Congress adopts a resolution disapproving it. Sets forth House and Senate procedures for consideration of such resolution.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Introduced in House" stage on March 28, 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 March 28, 1979: Referred to House Committee on Rules.
- 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?
CHRISTOPHER DODD (D-CT) introduced it on March 28, 1979. No cosponsors are recorded.
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 March 28, 1979, 17333 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 17333 days ago, on March 28, 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