National Coal Production, Distribution, and Utilization Act of 1980
Latest action. Referred to Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
National Coal Production, Distribution, and Utilization Act of 1980 - Amends the Mineral Leasing Act of 1980 to designate coal as one of the minerals for which qualified applicants may acquire pipeline rights of way through Federal lands. Directs the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, to determine whether construction of a coal pipeline would be in the national interest by considering the extent to which the pipeline: (1) would help meet national needs for coal; (2) would help displace imported petroleum and coal; (3) would increase competition and marketing opportunities for all coal producers; (4) would cost more if denied the power of eminent domain; (5) would affect the environment; and (6) would lower the cost of coal to consumers. Allows any person whose application for building a coal pipeline has been approved to acquire a right of way from a coal distributor by exercising the right of eminent domain in the proper State court or United States district court for the district in which the coal distributor's lands are located. Grants United States district courts jurisdiction only in cases where the owner of the land to be condemned claims more than $10,000 in damages.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Introduced in Senate" stage on May 6, 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 May 6, 1980: Referred to Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 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?
DALE BUMPERS (D-AR) introduced it on May 6, 1980, and 3 members have since signed on as cosponsors.
They are 3 Democrats.
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 6, 1980, 16928 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 16928 days ago, on May 6, 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
- SenateIn committee, no floor vote yet
- HouseAwaits Senate passage
- PresidentAwaits both chambers