H.R. 1162: Science Prize Competitions Act

114th Congress · introduced 2015-02-27 · Science, Technology, Communications · Latest: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2015-02-27 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Beyer, Donald S., Jr. [D-VA-8] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Science Prize Competitions Act

Plain summary

Science Prize Competitions Act Amends the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 regarding prize competitions, allowing an agency to waive liability insurance requirements for participants. Allows an agency to enter into a grant, contract, cooperative agreement, or other agreement with a private sector for-profit as well as a nonprofit entity (as under current law) to administer a prize competition. Permits the use of funds from private sector for-profit entities to support a prize competition. Prohibits an agency from giving special consideration to any private sector for-profit entity in return for a donation. Limits the use of federal funds to those made available by appropriations Acts.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Science Prize Competitions Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended)

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The strongest published arguments

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Beyer, Donald S., Jr. [D-VA-8] · 12 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 1162, Science Prize Competitions Act (2015-03-20)

Cosponsors on this site

Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Katherine M. Clark (D-MA), Bruce Westerman (R-AR)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Beyer, Donald S., Jr. [D-VA-8] reported raising $2.5 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)

Appropriation: Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-114hr1162.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/114/hr>

Record fed-us-cong114-hr1162 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong114 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong114