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The House passed the DOE and USDA Interagency Research Act (H.R. 1326) with broad bipartisan support. This bill establishes a formal partnership between the Department of Energy and the Department of Agriculture to conduct joint research on agricultural technology and energy efficiency.
This vote was to pass H.R. 1326, which directs the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to collaborate on research projects. These joint efforts will focus on high-tech solutions for farming, such as using artificial intelligence to improve crop yields and developing new biofuels. The goal is to combine the technical expertise of both agencies to address national challenges in food security, climate change, and energy independence. The House used a procedure called "suspension of the rules," which is typically reserved for bills that have significant support from both parties. This process bypasses certain standard rules and requires a higher threshold—two-thirds of the voting members—to pass. It is a common way for Congress to quickly approve non-controversial legislation without lengthy debate. The bill passed easily with a large majority from both Republicans and Democrats, well exceeding the 272 votes required. Following this House approval, the legislation has been sent to the Senate for further consideration. If it passes there and is signed by the President, it will become law.
The bill moves to the Senate, where it has been referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
OPEN BILL →Why it matters. This bill aims to modernize farming and energy production by forcing two large government agencies to share resources and research, potentially leading to breakthroughs in climate-resilient agriculture and energy independence.
Who’s affected. Researchers and Scientists: Gain access to new joint funding and collaboration opportunities between federal agencies, universities, and national labs. · Farmers and Ranchers: May benefit from new technologies like precision agriculture and improved practices developed through joint DOE-USDA research. · Rural Communities: Could see economic benefits from advancements in biofuels and localized energy grid modernization.
Democrats. Democrats almost unanimously supported the measure, with 198 voting yes and only 3 voting no.
Republicans. Republicans supported the bill by a large margin (176 to 34), though a small group of conservatives voted against it.
On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass
Mar 24, 2025
The House passed the DOE and USDA Interagency Research Act (H.R.
1326) with broad bipartisan support. This bill establishes a formal partnership between the Department of Energy and the Department of Agriculture to conduct joint research on agricultural technology and energy efficiency.
This vote was held under "suspension of the rules," a fast-track process for bills with broad support. It skips long debates and amendments but requires a two-thirds supermajority to pass instead of a simple majority.
The bill moves to the Senate, where it has been referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
This bill aims to modernize farming and energy production by forcing two large government agencies to share resources and research, potentially leading to breakthroughs in climate-resilient agriculture and energy independence.
The vote was highly bipartisan, with nearly all Democrats and the vast majority of Republicans voting in favor.
Democrats almost unanimously supported the measure, with 198 voting yes and only 3 voting no.
Republicans supported the bill by a large margin (176 to 34), though a small group of conservatives voted against it.
The single independent member present voted in favor of the bill.