Small Scale Energy Technology Programs Reorganization Act
Latest action. Referred to Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs.
Small Scale Energy Technology Programs Reorganization Act - Defines the term "small-scale technology" to include renewable energy and other technologies, products, and services which contribute to energy production, conservation, and awareness among end users in a manner which is simple, environmentally sound, and reliant upon available labor. Establishes and Office of Small Scale Technology within the Department of Energy. Requires the Office to incorporate the energy technology small grants program of the Department. Directs the Secretary of Energy, through the Director of such Office, to: (1) make grants to small businesses and localities for small-scale technology; (2) certify the performance of small-scale technology equipment and demonstration models developed by grantees; (3) assist in the marketing of certified technologies; (4) provide information on the benefits and availability of small-scale technology and the role of small business in its production; (5) assist State and local governments in the use of such technology; and (6) coordinate domestic and international small-scale technology programs. Sets forth procedures for the administration by the Office of the small grants program. Limits any such grant to not more than $100,000 for any two-year period. Directs the Secretary to initiate a program to promote the use of small-scale technology and to improve the competitive position of small, energy-related businesses. Requires the Secretary to provide grants to small businesses and localities to expand the use of certified technologies. Requires the Director to conduct and submit to Congress a study on the practicality of integrating all functions of the Energy-Related Inventions Program into the Office of Small Scale Technology. Directs the Secretary to report to Congress concerning: (1) policy recommendations to the Department for utilizing small-scale technologies to meet the Nation's energy needs; (2) the advisability of modifying the Department's patent policy to enable small businesses to commercialize emerging technologies; and (3) the activities of the Office. Establishes an Interagency Council on Small Scale Technology as an independent instrumentality of the U.S. in the executive branch. Directs the Council to review, coordinate, and report to Congress on the current and potential small-scale technology programs of the Government.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Introduced in Senate" stage on August 3, 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 August 3, 1979: Referred to Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs.
- Clearing the committees it was referred to, and being scheduled for a floor vote
- Passage by the Senate
- Passage by the House
- 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?
CHARLES PERCY (R-IL) introduced it on August 3, 1979, and 4 members have since signed on as cosponsors.
They come from both major parties: 2 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 August 3, 1979, 17205 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 17205 days ago, on August 3, 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
- SenateIn committee, no floor vote yet
- HouseAwaits Senate passage
- PresidentAwaits both chambers