Biological Organisms Act of 1980
Latest action. Referred to House Committee on Agriculture.
Biological Organisms Act of 1980 - Prohibits any person from moving any biological organism into or within the United States without the authorization of the Secretary of Agriculture. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to prescribe the conditions and procedures for the movement of such organisms. Prohibits any movement of organisms which would involve a danger of the dissemination of such organisms as may be hazardous to American agriculture or the production of food or fiber. Authorizes inspectors to: (1) stop and inspect without a warrant any person or means of conveyance moving into or within the United States to determine whether any biological organism is being moved; and (2) enter premises with a warrant to make inspections and seizures necessary to enforce the provisions of this Act. Permits the Secretary to compromise, modify, or remit any civil penalty assessed under this Act. Authorizes the Secretary to issue subpoenas. Establishes criminal penalties for the unauthorized movement of biological organisms. Vests the U.S. district courts with jurisdiction in all cases arising under this Act. Empowers the Secretary to seize or quarantine any organisms or premises as an emergency measure. Permits the Secretary to require the owner of such organisms or premises to apply remedial measures to such organisms or premises or to dispose of such organisms in an appropriate manner. Authorizes the Secretary to cooperate with any Federal or State agency to enforce this Act and to eradicate, control or prevent the spread of any biological organism harmful to agriculture.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Introduced in House" stage on October 2, 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 October 2, 1980: Referred to House Committee on Agriculture.
- 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?
WILLIAM WAMPLER (R-VA) introduced it on October 2, 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 October 2, 1980, 16779 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 16779 days ago, on October 2, 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