New Clean Air Act
Latest action. Committee on Environment and Public Works Senate subcommitteeA smaller panel inside a standing committee with jurisdiction over a slice of its subject matter. Most hearings and the first markup usually happen here.Read the full definition (opens a new tab) on Environmental Protection. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 100-187, pt. 2.
New Clean Air Act - Amends the Clean Air Act to limit after 1990 the number of hours a fossil-fuel-burning electric generating facility which is a major stationary source of sulfur dioxide emissions may operate according to its emissions rate. Requires such major sources to attain by 1995 the best degree of emission reduction technically available. Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to publish demonstrated levels of emission reduction and to promulgate emission standards for oil shale production and processing facilities, synthetic fuels production facilities, and other categories of major energy-production sources. Requires the use of systems for gasoline vapor recovery of hydrocarbon emissions from fueling of motor vehicles in every air quality region which fails to attain the national primary ambient air quality standard for ozone by 1988. Increases the length of time control systems on cars must last. Requires vehicles after model year 1988 to be equipped with onboard hydrocarbon control technology. Sets standards for emissions of hydrocarbons, oxides of nitrogen, and particulates from light-duty vehicles and engines for implementation in model years 1992, 1990, and 1991, respectively. Sets emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles and engines for model years after 1990. Sets emission standards for light-duty trucks and engines for model years 1990 and after. Prohibits the sale of diesel fuel with a sulfur content above a certain level determined by the Administrator. Provides for the assessment of daily civil penalties for violations of the fuel and fuel additive regulatory requirements. Requires State vehicle inspection programs to require emissions testing or direct inspection of components of vehicle emissions control systems. Directs the Administrator to implement a monitoring system for assessing the effects of acid deposition by July 1, 1988. Makes it a violation of the Clean Air Act if a State's air pollutant emissions contribute to the violation of another State's water quality standard under the Clean Water Act. Amends the Clean Water Act to state that such emissions endanger health or welfare abroad if they contribute to the violation of such country's water quality standards. Directs the President to negotiate with Canada and Mexico by 1988 to cooperate in reducing air pollution. Directs the President to negotiate treaties or other international agreements to apply uniform standards of performance for the control of air pollutant emissions. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to report to the Congress by 1989 on a system of tariffs on emissions sufficient to encourage reductions.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Introduced in Senate" stage on January 12, 1987. 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 July 28, 1987: Committee on Environment and Public Works Senate Subcommittee on Environmental Protection. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 100-187, pt. 2.
- 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 100th Congress (1987-88), 713 of the 9,582 bills and joint resolutions introduced became law, about 7.4 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?
ROBERT STAFFORD (R-VT) introduced it on January 12, 1987, and 10 members have since signed on as cosponsors.
They come from both major parties: 6 Democrats, 4 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 January 12, 1987, 14486 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 14289 days ago, on July 28, 1987.
Measures do not carry over. Anything the 100th Congress has not finished by January 3, 1989 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