Overview
Purpose
"A bill to establish Department of Energy policy for science and energy research and development programs, and reform National Laboratory management and technology transfer programs, and for other purposes."
Primary Sponsors
Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) and Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) / Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
Final outcome
President signed amended version of H.R.589 into law, Sept. 28, 2018
Committee Reports
Summary of Selected Provisions
- Provides the first-ever full authorization of the DOE Office of Science, establishing statutory direction for its primary research program offices and other major programs such as Energy Innovation Hubs and Energy Frontier Research Centers.
- Many provisions derive from the "North American Energy Security and Infrastructure Act of 2016," a major energy policy bill that came close to passing during the 114th Congress.
- Directs DOE to continue identifying opportunities to conduct and support crosscutting R&D, demonstration, and commercialization efforts
- Authorizes research initiatives in solar fuels and electricity storage, and re-establishes the low-dose radiation research program
Directs DOE to construct an advanced nuclear research reactor featuring a versatile fast neutron source, and establishes a National Reactor Innovation Center to enable private sector collaboration(removed by amendment in Senate)
Actions
Actions on the House bill
President signed amended version of the bill into law
Sept. 28, 2018
House passed amended version of the bill by voice vote
Sept. 13, 2018
Senate passed amended version of the bill by voice vote
July 23, 2018
Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved bill
March 8, 2018
House passed bill by voice vote
Jan. 24, 2017
Bill introduced
Jan. 20, 2017
Actions on the Senate bill
Senate passed amended version of the bill by voice vote
July 23, 2018
Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved bill
March 8, 2018
Bill introduced
March 6, 2018
Status update
The provisions that the Senate removed in H.R.589 relating to nuclear energy were included in the Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act (S.97), which was enacted separately on Sept. 28, 2018.
Relevant FYI Bulletins