Energy Independence Act of 2004
Latest action. Referred to the subcommitteeA smaller panel inside a standing committee with jurisdiction over a slice of its subject matter. Most hearings and the first markup usually happen here.Read the full definition (opens a new tab) on Energy and Air Quality, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Chairman.
Energy Independence Act of 2004 - Amends the Clean Air Act to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a renewable fuel program for motor vehicle fuel sold or dispensed in the contiguous United States. Authorizes the Administrator to allow participation by noncontiguous States.
Prohibits the use of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) as a fuel additive.
Requires Federal agency fleet vehicles to be clean fuel vehicles.
Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (IRC) to expand business tax credits (credits) for electricity produced from renewable resources.
Authorizes pro rata allocation of the small ethanol producer credit to patrons of cooperative organizations.
Establishes a business credit for energy efficient appliances.
Repeals the retail excise tax on diesel fuel for diesel-powered trains. Reduces the excise tax rate on fuel used in inland waterways transportation.
Provides a business credit for construction of energy efficient homes and a personal credit for energy efficiency improvements to existing homes.
Sets forth special rules applicable to the business credit for renewable electricity production.
Establishes a credit against manufacturers excise taxes for alcohol fuel and biodiesel mixtures.
Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to modify date restrictions applicable to additional duties on certain fuels.
Amends the IRC to extend the alcohol fuels business credit.
Establishes a general business credit for biodiesel fuels.
Expands the qualified small-issue bond program.
Establishes a personal credit for alternative motor vehicles.
Establishes a business credit for engines complying with specified emissions levels.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Introduced in House" stage on June 23, 2004. 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 July 22, 2004: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Chairman.
- 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 108th Congress (2003-04), 498 of the 8,623 bills and joint resolutions introduced became law, about 5.8 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?
JIM NUSSLE (R-IA) introduced it on June 23, 2004, and 3 members have since signed on as cosponsors.
They are 3 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 June 23, 2004, 8114 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 8085 days ago, on July 22, 2004.
Measures do not carry over. Anything the 108th Congress has not finished by January 3, 2005 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