H.R. 4238: To amend the Department of Energy Organization Act and the Local Public Works Capital Development and Investment Act of 1976 to modernize terms relating to minorities.

114th Congress · introduced 2015-12-11 · Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues · Latest: Became Public Law No: 114-157.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2015-12-11 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: 1 recorded vote in our records. Latest: House roll call 102 (2016): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, HR4238 (2016-02-29), Passed. See all
Where it stands now: Became Public Law No: 114-157. (final step reached)
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

To amend the Department of Energy Organization Act and the Local Public Works Capital Development and Investment Act of 1976 to modernize terms relating to minorities.

Plain summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.) This bill amends: (1) the Department of Energy Organization Act to revise the definition of "minority" to mean any U.S. citizen who is an Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, African American, Hispanic, Puerto Rican, Native American, or Alaska Native; and (2) the Local Public Works Capital Development and Investment Act of 1976 to revise the definition of "minority group members" (who own minority group enterprises) to mean U.S. citizens who are Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islanders, African American, Hispanic, Native American, or Alaska Natives.

Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law), 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

To amend the Department of Energy Organization Act and the Local Public Works Capital Development and Investment Act of 1976 to modernize terms relating to minorities.

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law)

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6] · 76 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 4238, an act to amend the Department of Energy Organization Act and the Local Public Works Capital Development and Investment Act of 1976 to modernize terms relating to minorities (2016-03-24)

Cosponsors on this site

Ami Bera (D-CA), Judy Chu (D-CA), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Al Green (D-TX), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Doris O. Matsui (D-CA), Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA), Adam Smith (D-WA), Mark Takano (D-CA), Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), Dina Titus (D-NV), Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Scott H. Peters (D-CA), Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Adam B. Schiff (D-CA), Lois Frankel (D-FL) and 16 more.

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6] reported raising $2.2 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

Agencies named in this bill

Department of Energy: its federal spending and other bills that name it

Found automatically: the agency's full official name appears in the bill title. A bill can affect agencies it does not name, so this list may be incomplete.

Recorded votes

House roll call 102 (2016): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, HR4238 (2016-02-29): Passed

Words on this page, explained (1)

Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-114hr4238.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/114/hr>

Record fed-us-cong114-hr4238 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong114 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong114