Motor Fuel Conservation Act of 1979
Latest action. Referred to Senate Committee on Finance.
Motor Fuel Conservation Act of 1979 - Establishes the Motor Fuels Conservation Trust Fund within the Treasury of the United States. Appropriates to such Fund the amounts received by the Treasury from surtaxes on diesel fuel and gasoline. Sets forth the procedures for the transfer of such amounts. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) hold such Fund; (2) report to Congress on the operations and financial conditions of such Fund; and (3) invest such portion of such Fund as is not required to meet current withdrawals. Stipulates that such investments be made only in interest-bearing obligations of the United States or in obligations guaranteed as to both principal and interest by the United States. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) prepare and submit to Congress a plan reducing the Federal tax burden on specified persons by the amount of surtax such persons are projected to pay within a fiscal year; (3) increase food stamp benefits for specified persons by the amount of surtax such persons are projected to pay within a fiscal year; (3) transfer from such Fund to the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund an amount equal to the reduction of taxes resulting from such plan; and (4) transfer to the general fund of the Treasury an amount equal to the reduction in income taxes or increase in food stamp benefits resulting from such plan. Imposes a surtax on the sale of diesel fuel and gasoline. Adjusts such tax for inflation. Makes such tax effective on sales after December 31, 1979.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Introduced in Senate" stage on September 14, 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 14, 1979: Referred to Senate Committee on Finance.
- 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?
JOHN JOHNSTON (D-LA) introduced it on September 14, 1979. 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 September 14, 1979, 17163 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 17163 days ago, on September 14, 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