House · HR 1326 · 119th Congress
DOE and USDA Interagency Research Act
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Summary
This bill requires the Department of Energy and the Department of Agriculture to work together on shared research projects. They must sign a formal agreement and use a fair, competitive process to pick who gets to participate. Research topics can include biofuels, wildfire prevention, rural technology, and farm efficiency.
In Favor
This bill creates a formal agreement between DOE and USDA to fund competitive research on problems neither agency can solve alone, like connecting farm energy use to grid security. Topics such as biofuels, wildfire prevention, and precision agriculture cross both agencies' work but currently lack a shared research structure. A required report to Congress adds accountability for results.
Against
This bill adds a new layer of coordination between two large agencies, which takes time and staff to manage. Resources spent on joint planning and reporting could instead go directly to research. There is no guarantee that combined efforts will produce better results than focused work within each agency.
Additional Considerations
Purpose & Problem
Is the problem real and worth federal action?
This bill requires the Energy Department and Agriculture Department to work together on shared research projects. It targets gaps where farming and energy topics overlap, such as biofuels, grid security, and wildfire prevention.
Scope & Related Provisions
Does it stay focused, or carry unrelated add-ons?
The bill stays focused on joint research between the two agencies across many related topics. All listed areas, such as artificial intelligence, rural technology, and invasive species, connect to agriculture or energy missions.
Who Is Affected
Who benefits, and who bears the cost?
Federal agencies, national labs, colleges, and nonprofit groups can apply to take part in funded research. Both departments must carry out new coordination duties and submit a report to Congress within two years.
Cost & Funding
Is it affordable and responsibly funded?
The bill authorizes reimbursable agreements between agencies but does not state a specific dollar amount for funding. No CBO cost estimate appears in the sources. The bill creates a cost structure where both departments must staff coordination work and run a merit-review process.
Risks & Implementation
What could go wrong in practice?
The bill requires both departments to agree on and sign a formal interagency agreement before work can begin. Delays in reaching that agreement could slow the start of any research projects the bill envisions.
For the actual bill text, see congress.gov.
AI-generated · Published 6/5/2026