Energy Policy and Conservation Amendments Act of 1985
Public Law 99-58 · H.R. 1699 · 99th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Jul 2, 1985 · Energy
Sponsor: Rep. Philip Sharp (D-IN-2)
Cosponsors (1): Rep. William Dannemeyer
Passage votes
- HouseVoice vote
- SenateVoice vote
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
(Senate receded and concurred with House amendment with an amendment)
Energy Policy and Conservation Amendments Act of 1985 - Title I: Amendments to the Energy Policy and Conservation Act - Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to extend from June 30, 1985, to June 30, 1989: (1) the authority granted under the Act regarding domestic energy supply availability including the strategic petroleum reserve (SPR); and (2) the authority for materials allocation granted under the Defense Production Act of 1950.
Prohibits any amendment to the SPR Plan transmitted to the Congress by the Secretary of Energy from becoming effective until 60 days after transmittal, unless the President determines that such amendment is required by a severe energy supply interruption or by Federal obligation under the international energy program.
Repeals the concurrent resolution congressional review requirements regarding a presidential decision to stop filling the SPR and to continue selling Naval Petroleum Reserve oil. Provides that such a presidential decision may become effective on the date the Congress is notified and shall terminate by nine months later.
Directs the Secretary to implement a test drawdown and distribution of about 1,100,000 barrels of crude oil from the SPR in order to evaluate the implementation of the SPR Plan.
Requires that any modification of the Plan be transmitted to the Congress within 15 calendar days prior to the offering of any crude oil for sale under this Act.
Requires that at least part of the crude oil be sold to or exchanged with non-Federal governmental entities.
Prohibits the Secretary from selling any crude oil under this Act at less than 90 percent of the sales price of the comparable crude oil being sold in the same area at the time.
Requires the Secretary to acquire crude oil for the Reserve in the same amount as the total amount of crude oil sold pursuant to the test drawdown and distribution.
Requires the Secretary to transmit to the Congress a detailed explanation of any test implemented under this Act.
Extends all standby energy authorities with respect to the International Energy Program through June 30, 1988. Terminates all other general emergency authorities at midnight, June 30, 1985.
Sets forth congressional veto procedures for any plan of action by the U.S. Attorney General for an international energy emergency whereunder normal business transactions (Type I transactions as defined in the International Energy Agency Emergency Management Manual) would be afforded defenses to antitrust and breach of contract actions, even though such normal business transactions are neither approved by the International Energy Agency nor mandated by the U.S. Government. Requires submission to the Congress of any such proposed new plan of action. Permits such proposal to take effect if the Congress fails to enact a joint resolution of disapproval within 90 days after submission.
Title II: Reports Concerning Coal Imports - National Coal Imports Reporting Act of 1985 - Requires the Secretary of Energy, through the Energy Information Administration, to: (1) provide quarterly reports and annual summaries to the Congress regarding the status of United States coal imports; and (2) report to the Congress regarding the findings of a comprehensive analysis of the coal import market in the United States. Details the contents of the quarterly reports and the comprehensive analysis.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Energy and Commerce Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Transportation, Tourism, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 19 actions.
- Jul 2, 1985Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 99-58.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Jun 27, 1985Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Agreed to Senate Amendments by Voice Vote.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate receded from its amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- FloorFloor · Passed Senate with a further amendment by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
- Jun 20, 1985Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Requested a Conference and Speaker Appointed Conferees: Dingell, Sharp, Walgren, Broyhill, Dannemeyer.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Disagreed to Senate Amendments by Unanimous Consent.
- Jun 18, 1985FloorFloor · Passed Senate in lieu of S. 979 with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 98-1. Record Vote No: 128.Senate roll call 128
- Jun 4, 1985FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
- Jun 3, 1985CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Energy and Commerce Committee
- May 22, 1985CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Energy and Commerce Committee
- Apr 4, 1985CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Transportation, Tourism, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Transportation, Tourism, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee
- Mar 27, 1985CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Transportation, Tourism, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Transportation, Tourism, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee
- Mar 25, 1985CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Energy and Commerce Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.