An act to authorize appropriations to the Secretary of Commerce for the programs of the National Bureau of Standards for fiscal years 1981 and 1982, and for other purposes.
Latest action. public lawWhat a bill becomes when enacted, numbered by Congress and order of enactment: Public Law 119-4 is the 4th law of the 119th Congress.Read the full definition (opens a new tab) 96-461.
(Senate agreed to House amendments with an amendment) National Bureau of Standards Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1981 and 1982 - Authorizes appropriations to carry out the activities of the National Bureau of Standards for fiscal years 1981 and 1982. Sets forth minimum amounts to be spent on specified programs, including the Environmental Measurements Program, Earthquake Hazards Engineering, Measurement Standards for the Handicapped, the Automated Manufacturing Research Facility, and for Transfer to Working Capital Fund. Establishes a spending ceiling for expenses of the Bureau incurred outside the United States. Authorizes additional appropriations for fiscal years 1981 and 1982 to carry out the activities performed by the National Technical Information Service and for adjustments in salary and employee benefits. Permits the transfer of funds among the line items according to a specified formula and procedure. Increases the ceiling on the amount the Bureau may spend for facilities improvement, effective October 1, 1980. Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to expend funds to defray the expenses of foreign nationals not in service to the Federal government while they are performing scientific or engineering work at the National Bureau of Standards or participating in the exchange of scientific or technical information at the Bureau, effective October 1, 1980. Authorizes employees of the Bureau to participate in foreign exchanges offered by a foreign government for the performance of scientific or engineering activities or the exchange of information if to do so would be in the interests of the United States. Repeals the provision relating to a limited authorization of appropriations for fiscal years 1979 and 1980.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Senate agreed to House amendment with amendment" stage on September 30, 1980. It describes the bill, it is not the legal text.
Public Law 96-461.
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Where is it in the process, and what happens next?
The latest action on file does not map to a stage Civibrief recognizes, so the page will not name one. The record's own words are the reliable fact here.
The record's latest action, on October 15, 1980: Public Law 96-461.
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 has no outstanding steps 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?
HOWARD CANNON (D-NV) introduced it on February 20, 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 February 20, 1980, 17004 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 16766 days ago, on October 15, 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
- SenatePublic Law 96-461.
- HouseNot stated in the latest action
- PresidentNot stated in the latest action