Biomass Research and Development Authorization Act of 1979
Latest action. Referred to House Committee on Science and Technology.
Biomass Research and Development Authorization Act of 1979 - Title I: Department of Energy Functions - Authorizes appropriations for: (1) the development of intermediate- and small-scale gasification and direct combustion systems based on bioconversion applications using agricultural and forest residues; (2) research and development in gasohol technology using biomass materials; (3) solar application system development providing for the development and implementation of onfarm energy production systems; (4) biomass conversion technology research related to fast throughput pyrolysis systems; (6) basic research in biomass conversion; (7) biomass technology support related to feedstock cultivation; (7) biomass technology support related to feedstock cultivation and harvesting systems, with emphasis on the integration of agriculture and energy programs and policies. Title II: Department of Agriculture Functions - Authorizes appropriations for: (1) market development and training related to commercialization of near-term bioenergy applications; and (2) the development and implementation of a forest waste and residue supply infrastructure, including the establishment of energy markets for residues resulting from conventional forest harvests and stand treatment operations and the development and demonstration of low-cost harvesting equipment capable of removing biomass from a variety of forest regions.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Introduced in House" stage on September 27, 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 September 27, 1979: Referred to House Committee on Science and Technology.
- 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?
FLOYD FITHIAN (D-IN) introduced it on September 27, 1979, and 31 members have since signed on as cosponsors.
They come from both major parties: 29 Democrats, 2 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 September 27, 1979, 17197 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 17197 days ago, on September 27, 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