Accelerated Solar Energy Utilization Act of 1979
Latest action. Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means.
Accelerated Solar Energy Utilization Act of 1979 - Title I: Establishment of National Solar Goal - Establishes a national goal for the increased use of Solar energy and renewable energy resources as a part of the Nation's total energy supply in the year 2000. Title II: Establishment of Solar Energy Development Bank - Establishes a Government corporation in the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to be known as the Solar Energy Development Bank to provide subsidies of long-term low-interest loans made for the purchase and installation of solar energy systems in residential and commercial structures. Sets forth requirements for eligibility for such subsidies, and other terms and conditions thereto. Establishes a seven member advisory board to make annual reports to the Congress and the President on the operation of the program established by this Act and to advise the President of the Solar Bank and the Secretary of HUD. Permits the Solar Bank to utilize the services of HUD personnel. Imposes criminal penalties for the furnishing of false or misleading information by applicants for loans subsidized under this Act, and for the misuse of such loan funds. Directs the Solar Bank to inform financial institutions and builders and owners of residential and commercial structures of such program and to actively seek their participation. Authorizes the Bank to train employees of such institutions in the operation of this Act. Title III: Tax Credits for Solar Energy and Woodburning Stoves - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to qualify expenditures for woodburning stoves for the 15 percent residential energy conservation tax credit. Allows an additional 15 percent investment tax credit for process heat solar property. Allows a tax credit for certain builders for constructing buildings using passive solar elements. Title IV: Exemption from Certain Excise Taxes Made Permanent for Gasohol and Similar Alcohol Mixtures - Amends the Energy Tax Act of 1978 to make the exemption from motor fuels excise taxes for gasoline mixed with alcohol and alcohol mixed with special fuel a permanent exemption. Title V: Increased Secondary Financing for Dwellings with Solar Energy Systems - Amends the National Housing Act and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Act to increase the maximum principal obligation amounts for residences fitted with solar energy systems.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Introduced in House" stage on July 13, 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 July 13, 1979: Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means.
- 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?
RICHARD OTTINGER (D-NY) introduced it on July 13, 1979, and 2 members have since signed on as cosponsors.
They come from both major parties: 1 Democrat, 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 July 13, 1979, 17273 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 17273 days ago, on July 13, 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