A bill to amend the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to improve the safe operation of nuclear powerplants, and for other purposes.
Latest action. Referred to House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce.
Amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to direct the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to order the suspension of operations at each licensed nuclear powerplant having a similar design to any nuclear powerplant from which there has been an abnormal release of radiation or other accident involving radioactive material caused by design or mechanical flaws and endangering public health and safety. States that such suspension order shall remain effective until the Commission determines that the flaw has been corrected or that termination of suspension is otherwise in the public interest. Makes the license revocation and civil penalty provisions of such Act applicable to failures to comply with such orders. Directs the Commission to designate inspection regions in areas in the United States in which are located operating nuclear powerplants, and requires the placement of qualified inspectors in each such powerplant on a 24 hour basis. Directs the Commission to establish emergency teams of qualified personnel which shall have legal authority to supervise all activities involving any abnormal release of radiation or other accident at a licensed nuclear powerplant. Directs such team to inform the public on any such radiation emission and on any necessary evacuation plans. Directs the Commission to train, employ, and place nuclear engineers, technicians, and other personnel as may be necessary to operate nuclear powerplants licensed under such Act and requires that such powerplants be in fact operated by such personnel. Directs the Commission to establish a secure and direct communications system with such personnel. Requires that the Commission establish standards for such personnel, including training qualifications. Requires that States in which nuclear powerplants are located submit for the Commission's approval nuclear powerplant emergency plans and prohibits the issuance or renewal of any construction or operation license for any powerplant located in a State which has not submitted and obtained approval of such plan. Denies eligibility for Federal assistance for disaster relief to any State failing to submit such plan for approval. Requires the Commission to conduct continuous radiation monitoring of the environment surrounding licensed nuclear powerplants. Directs the Commission to carry out an inspection and evaluation program concerning compliance with requirements relating to nuclear powerplant construction, using only Commission personnel. Directs the Commission to submit to the Congress a comprehensive plan for the safe disposal or storage of spent nuclear fuel and other radioactive materials associated with licensed nuclear powerplants.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Introduced in House" stage on May 22, 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 May 22, 1979: Referred to House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce.
- 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 May 22, 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 May 22, 1979, 17278 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 17278 days ago, on May 22, 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