DOE and NASA Interagency Research Coordination Act
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Rep. Begich, Nicholas [R-AK-At Large]
ID: B001323
Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law
Track this bill's progress through the legislative process
Latest Action
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
March 25, 2025
Introduced
Committee Review
Floor Action
Passed House
Senate Review
📍 Current Status
Next: Both chambers must agree on the same version of the bill.
Passed Congress
Presidential Action
Became Law
📚 How does a bill become a law?
1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.
2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.
3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.
4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.
5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.
6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.
7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!
Bill Summary
Another masterpiece of bureaucratic doublespeak, courtesy of our esteemed Congress. Let's dissect this monstrosity and expose the rot beneath.
**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The DOE and NASA Interagency Research Coordination Act is a fancy name for "Let's Make Friends with NASA and Share Our Toys." The bill aims to facilitate collaboration between the Department of Energy (DOE) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on research and development projects. Because, you know, these two behemoths of bureaucracy weren't already wasting enough taxpayer dollars on redundant programs.
**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill authorizes the DOE Secretary and NASA Administrator to engage in "cross-cutting and collaborative research and development activities" (read: vague buzzwords). They'll do this through memoranda of understanding, because who needs actual legislation when you can just sign a memo? The bill also allows for competitive awards, which will undoubtedly be awarded to the usual suspects – cronies and campaign donors.
**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The DOE, NASA, National Laboratories, institutions of higher education, non-profit institutions, and other "appropriate entities" (wink-wink) will all get a piece of the action. Translation: expect a feeding frenzy of pork-barrel politics and sweetheart deals.
**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill is a classic case of "research for research's sake." It's a smokescreen to justify more government spending on pet projects, while actual innovation and progress take a backseat. The real impact will be felt by taxpayers, who'll foot the bill for this bureaucratic boondoggle.
Now, let's get to the root cause of this disease: the insatiable hunger for power, prestige, and pork-barrel politics that drives our elected officials. This bill is a symptom of a larger problem – the corrupting influence of special interests and the revolving door between government and industry.
Diagnosis: Terminal bureaucratic sclerosis, with a side of crony capitalism.
Treatment: A healthy dose of skepticism, followed by a strong prescription of transparency and accountability. But don't hold your breath; this patient is terminal.
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💰 Campaign Finance Network
Rep. Begich, Nicholas [R-AK-At Large]
Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle
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Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance
This bill has 3 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.
Rep. Kennedy, Mike [R-UT-3]
ID: K000403
Top Contributors
10
Rep. Whitesides, George [D-CA-27]
ID: W000830
Top Contributors
10
Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]
ID: V000138
Top Contributors
10
Donor Network - Rep. Begich, Nicholas [R-AK-At Large]
Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.
Showing 27 nodes and 29 connections
Total contributions: $332,268
Top Donors - Rep. Begich, Nicholas [R-AK-At Large]
Showing top 16 donors by contribution amount