Rural Development Policy Act of 1980
Latest action. Measure laid on table in House, S. 670 passed in lieu.
(Measure passed House, amended) Rural Development Policy Act of 1980 - Amends the Rural Development Act of 1972 to establish the Working Group for Rural Development, chaired by the Secretary of Agriculture, and composed of Assistant Secretary-level representatives of specified departments and agencies, which shall develop and recommend comprehensive strategies to: (1) maximize the effectiveness, increase the responsiveness, and improve the delivery of Federal programs to rural areas; (2) increase coordination of such programs with the development needs, objectives, and resources of local communities, substate areas, states, and multistate regions; and (3) achieve the most effective combinations of Federal, State, and local resources to meet the needs of rural areas for orderly growth and development. Specifies: (1) the objectives of such strategies, including that they cover a four-year period and contain budgetary recommendations; and (2) time limits for the submission of such strategies to Congress. Directs the Working Group to determine whether Federal programs affecting rural areas are equitable in comparison to urban programs. Sets forth attendant duties of such Group, including: (1) holding appropriate hearings; (2) reviewing regulations affecting rural areas; (3) establishing, with assistance from the Secretary, offices of rural development within particular Federal departments and agencies; and (4) reporting annually to Congress on the implementation of the strategies. Directs the President to appoint a Rural Development Advisory Committee, representing State and local governments, farmers, rural residents, and other organizations, to assist the Working Group. Extends the authorization of appropriations for rural development and small farm research and extension programs through fiscal year 1981. Stipulates that the plan and budget required under the rural development and small farm research and extension programs, in States containing more than one institution accepting the benefits of the Morrill Acts of 1862 and/or 1890 (including Tuskegee Institute), shall be jointly developed by the chief administrative officers of all such institutions. Extends coverage of the Act to Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and the Virgin Islands. Directs the Secretary to guarantee loans up to $180,000,000 to public and private, profit and nonprofit, organizations and individuals for pilot projects for the production of alcohol fuels from agricultural commodities and forest products. Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to promote research and development efforts related to appropriate technology for small and moderate-sized family farms and any other problem affecting rural areas. Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to increase from $10,000,000 to $20,000,000 the maximum annual aggregate amount of rural development grants. Amends the Agricultural Act of 1970 to eliminate certain reporting requirements by the President, and the Secretaries of Agriculture and Housing and Urban Development.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Passed House amended" stage on September 15, 1980. It describes the bill, it is not the legal text.
Measure laid on table in House, S. 670 passed in lieu.
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Where is it in the process, and what happens next?
The latest action on file does not map to a stage Civibrief recognizes, so the page will not name one. The record's own words are the reliable fact here.
The record's latest action, on September 15, 1980: Measure laid on table in House, S. 670 passed in lieu.
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 has no outstanding steps 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?
RICHARD NOLAN (D-MN) introduced it on April 10, 1979, and 1 member has since signed on as a cosponsor.
They are 1 Republican.
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 April 10, 1979, 17320 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 16796 days ago, on September 15, 1980.
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
- HouseMeasure laid on table in House, S. 670 passed in lieu.
- SenateNot stated in the latest action
- PresidentNot stated in the latest action