DOE and USDA Interagency Research Act
February 13, 2025
Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.
Where This Stands
Currently in_committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →The Frame
This legislation formalizes a partnership between the DOE and USDA to align their research priorities, potentially impacting how federal funding is allocated for agricultural and energy technology projects over the next two years.
Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.
Agricultural producers
They may gain access to new technologies resulting from joint research into precision agriculture and processing efficiency.
Energy sector companies
They may be involved in research regarding grid modernization, biofuels, and the colocation of energy infrastructure with agricultural land.
Research institutions
Universities and National Laboratories are eligible to compete for funding and participate in the collaborative research framework.
Current stage: in_committee.
Floor Vote.
Summary
Key Facts
- Requires the Secretary of Energy and the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a memorandum of understanding for collaborative research.
- Mandates that all collaborative projects use a competitive, merit-reviewed application process.
- Eligible applicants include federal agencies, National Laboratories, universities, and nonprofit institutions.
- Focus areas include AI/machine learning, crop science, biofuels, grid modernization, and wildfire prevention.
- Authorizes the agencies to enter into reimbursable agreements to maximize research effectiveness.
- Requires a formal report to Congress on coordination, achievements, and future opportunities within two years of enactment.
- Directs agencies to develop methods for integrating large, standardized data sets across agricultural and energy sectors.
- Requires all research activities to comply with existing federal research security laws.
- Promotes the colocation of agricultural activities with carbon storage and energy technologies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will this bill change how farmers operate?
Who can apply for this research funding?
What is the timeline for this project?
Why It Matters
This legislation formalizes a partnership between the DOE and USDA to align their research priorities, potentially impacting how federal funding is allocated for agricultural and energy technology projects over the next two years.
News Coverage
Voting Record
Total
407
Yes
372
No
35
Present
0
Not Voting
0
Abstain
0
How they voted (407)
Chellie Pingree
D · yes
Kat Cammack
R · yes
Jeff Hurd
R · yes
Maria Salazar
R · yes
Claudia Tenney
R · yes
Rosa DeLauro
D · yes
Ron Estes
R · yes
John James
R · yes
Joseph Morelle
D · yes
Mark Messmer
R · yes
Nellie Pou
D · yes
Ami Bera
D · yes
Earl Carter
R · yes
Thomas Kean
R · yes
Zoe Lofgren
D · yes
Steven Horsford
D · yes
David Taylor
R · yes
Robert Garcia
D · yes
Valerie Foushee
D · yes
Lizzie Fletcher
D · yes
Johnny Olszewski
D · yes
Lloyd Doggett
D · yes
James Baird
R · yes
Lisa McClain
R · yes
+ 383 more
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Formalizing Interagency Data Integration
The bill explicitly mandates the creation of standardized, integrated data sets between the DOE and USDA, signaling a shift toward data-driven cross-departmental policy.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.congress.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance55How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
Publisher tools