Department of Energy Civilian Research and Development Programs 1981 Authorization Act
Latest action. Reported to House from the Committee on Science and Technology with amendment, H. Rept. 96-1179.
(Reported to House from the Committee on Science and Technology with amendment, H. Rept. 96-1179) Department of Energy Civilian Research and Development Programs 1981 Authorization Act - Authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 1981 for the Department of Energy operating expenses for the following programs: (1) fossil energy coal, oil, and gas; (2) conservation; (3) solar technology; (4) solar application; (5) biomass energy systems; and (6) nuclear fission energy. Prohibits the use of appropriated funds for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant project in New Mexico. Directs the Secretary of Energy to establish a research, development, and demonstration program for high-level radioactive waste disposal. Prohibits funding any person advocating a position on any authorized activity. Directs the Secretary to study and report to the appropriate congressional committees concerning low-level radioactive waste disposal techniques. Authorizes fiscal year 1981 appropriations for the following programs: (1) nuclear fusion; (2) geothermal energy; (3) small-scale hydropower; (4) electric energy systems; (5) energy storage systems; (6) basic energy sciences; (7) supporting research; (8) high energy physics; (9) nuclear physics; (10) uranium enrichment process development; and (11) environmental research and development. Directs the Secretary to carry out a magnetic fusion energy research, development, and demonstration program in accordance with specified policy objectives and program directives. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 1981 for the above mentioned programs for capital expenses not related to construction and for supply research and development plant and capital equipment. Directs the Secretary to report to Congress concerning: (1) the Department's policy on cost-sharing and contracts for large coal conversion demonstration and pilot plant projects; and (2) the comprehensive, multiyear program plan for energy conservation research, development, and demonstration. Prohibits the use of appropriated funds to: (1) store any irradiated nuclear fuel assembly in any subsurface geologic repository; or (2) construct spent fuel containers for permanent emplacement in any repository. Requires the Federal share of plant and capital equipment construction project to be funded separately from the operating expenses accounts. Directs that each such project be assigned to one of the following categories: (1) major construction projects; (2) minor construction projects; (3) general plant projects; or (4) planning and design. Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish the Research and Development Construction and Facilities Office; (2) assign a qualified panel of engineers and architects to review and report on the design of all planned laboratory/office facilities under the control of the Secretary; and (3) report to Congress describing such facilities. Makes research, development, and demonstration appropriations contained in the Act appropriating fiscal year 1980 funds for the Department of the Interior and related agencies subject to the Energy Reorganization Act provision concerning the authorized uses of operating expenses. States that nothing in this Act shall be construed to authorize commercial or remedial action activities.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Reported to House with amendment(s)" stage on July 22, 1980. 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, 1980: Reported to House from the Committee on Science and Technology with amendment, H. Rept. 96-1179.
- 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?
DON FUQUA (D-FL) introduced it on May 28, 1980. 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 28, 1980, 16906 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 16851 days ago, on July 22, 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
- HouseIn committee, no floor vote yet
- SenateAwaits House passage
- PresidentAwaits both chambers