Department of Energy National Defense Programs Authorization Act of 1981
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) 96-540.
(Senate agreed to House amendments with an amendment) Department of Energy National Security and Military Applications of Nuclear Energy Authorization Act of 1981 - =Title I: National Security Programs= - Authorizes the appropriation of funds for fiscal year 1981 to the Department of Energy for operating expenses and plant and capital equipment costs incurred in carrying out national security programs, including scientific research and development, strategic and critical materials necessary for common defense, and military applications of nuclear energy, as specified. =Title II: General Provisions= - Prohibits the use of funds authorized under this Act where the costs of the program exceed 105 percent of the program authorization or the costs exceed by more than $10,000,000 the amount authorized by this Act, whichever is the lesser. Prohibits the use of authorized funds for programs which have not been presented to, or requested of, Congress unless 30 calendar days have elapsed since the Secretary of Energy has presented to all the appropriate congressional committees a full and complete statement of the action proposed. Allows the written waiver of such requirement as specified. Imposes specified limits on the costs of general plant projects and construction projects. Allows the transfer of funds from specified projects to other Federal agencies for the performance of work for which the appropriation is made. Authorizes the Secretary to perform construction design services for proposed construction projects with amounts authorized for plant engineering and design, and to perform such services using available funds for any Department of Energy defense activity construction project in the event of any national emergency. Prohibits the use of any funds available under this or any other Act from being used: (1) for the licensing of any defense activity or facility of the Department of Energy by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission; or (2) to pay any penalty, fine, forfeiture, or settlement resulting from a failure to comply with the Clean Air Act with respect to any defense activity of the Department of Energy if either compliance is impossible or the President has specifically requested appropriations for compliance and Congress has failed to appropriate the funds. Requires the Secretary to: (1) produce and stockpile the nuclear materials and the warhead components necessary to enable the rapid conversion of certain warheads to an enhanced radiation capability; and (2) develop a plan for a cooperative program to provide assistance in the stabilization and management of certain uranium mill tailings.
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 November 25, 1980. It describes the bill, it is not the legal text.
Public Law 96-540.
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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 December 17, 1980: Public Law 96-540.
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?
HENRY JACKSON (D-WA) introduced it on August 26, 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 August 26, 1980, 16816 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 16703 days ago, on December 17, 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 96-540.
- HouseNot stated in the latest action
- PresidentNot stated in the latest action