H.R. 985: Concrete Masonry Products Research, Education, and Promotion Act of 2015

114th Congress · introduced 2015-02-13 · Commerce · Latest: Received in the Senate.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2015-02-13 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Guthrie, Brett [R-KY-2] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: 1 recorded vote in our records. Latest: House roll call 575 (2016): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, HR985 (2016-11-14), Passed. See all
Where it stands now: Received in the Senate. 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

Concrete Masonry Products Research, Education, and Promotion Act of 2015

Plain summary

Concrete Masonry Products Research, Education, and Promotion Act of 2015 (Sec. 4) This bill directs the Department of Commerce to issue orders applicable to manufacturers of concrete masonry products. An order regarding the generic research, education, and promotion of concrete masonry products may be: proposed by Commerce at any time, or requested (and submitted to Commerce) by an existing national organization of concrete masonry product manufacturers or any person that may be affected by the issuance of such an order. (Sec. 5) Any order issued under this bill shall provide for establishment of a Concrete Masonry Products Board to carry out a program of generic promotion, research, and education regarding concrete masonry products. The order shall specify the powers and duties of the board. The board may not engage in any action, nor use any funds received under this bill, to: influence legislation, elections, or governmental action; engage in any conflict of interest; engage in advertising that is false or misleading; or engage in any promotion, research, or education that would be disparaging to other construction materials, or any promotion or project that would benefit any individual manufacturer. Manufacturers and importers shall maintain, and make available for inspection, specified records. (Sec. 6) Any order must also require that quarterly assessments be paid by manufacturers for any concrete masonry products manufactured at least 180 days before remittance of the assessment to the board. The bill establishes an initial assessment rate of $0.01 per concrete masonry unit sold. The board may increase or decrease such rate but any change may not exceed $0.01 per unit, and be made no more than once per year. The maximum rate shall be $0.05 per unit. At least 50% of the assessments (less administrative expenses) paid by a manufacturer shall be used to support research, education, and promotion programs and projects in support of the manufacturer's geographic region. The bill divides the states into five specified regions, whose composition Commerce may adjust on the board's recommendation. (Sec. 7) During the 60-day period preceding the proposed effective date of an order, Commerce shall conduct a referendum for order approval, according to specified procedures, among the manufacturers required to pay assessments under it. (Sec. 8) The bill prescribes requirements for petition and review of an order, including order enforcement through U.S. district courts. Commerce may assess a civil penalty on any person willfully violating such an order or regulation. (Sec. 10) Commerce may also conduct appropriate investigations to administer this bill (with power of subpoena). (Sec. 11) Commerce must suspend or terminate any order, or a provision of an order, that obstructs or does not tend to effectuate the purposes of this bill, or that is not favored by a majority of all votes cast in a referendum. (Sec. 15) Funds appropriated to carry out this bill may not be used for the board's payment of expenses or expenditures in administering the order. (Sec. 16) In each fiscal year that begins on the enactment of this bill and ends on the last day of the 11th fiscal year that begins on or after such enactment, the board may not obligate an amount greater than the sum of: 73% of the amount of assessments estimated to be collected in such fiscal year; 73% of the amount of assessments actually collected in the most recent fiscal year for which an audit report has been submitted as of the beginning of the fiscal year for which the amount that may be obligated is being determined, less the estimate made for the most recent fiscal year; and unobligated amounts permitted in the preceding fiscal years. This bill prescribes a special rule regarding this prohibition for the amount of assessments estimated to be collected in the 9th and 10th fiscal years that begin on or after such enactment. (Sec. 17) The Government Accountability Office shall study how the board spends assessments collected, the impact of board activities, and other matters relating to the demand for concrete masonry products. (Sec. 18) Commerce shall examine the appropriateness and effectiveness of applying the commodity check-off program model to a nonagricultural industry. (A commodity check-off program collects funds through a checkoff mechanism from producers of a particular agricultural commodity and uses them to promote and do research on that particular commodity.)

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

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What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Concrete Masonry Products Research, Education, and Promotion Act of 2015

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended)

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Guthrie, Brett [R-KY-2] · 247 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 985, Concrete Masonry Products Research, Education, and Promotion Act of 2015 (2015-09-04); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 985, Concrete Masonry Products Research, Education, and Promotion Act of 2015 (2016-12-07)

Cosponsors on this site

Kathy Castor (D-FL), Richard Hudson (R-NC), Doris O. Matsui (D-CA), Joe Wilson (R-SC), Bill Huizenga (R-MI), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Tim Walberg (R-MI), Sam Graves (R-MO), John Garamendi (D-CA), Katherine M. Clark (D-MA), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Mark E. Amodei (R-NV), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Daniel Webster (R-FL), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and 187 more.

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Guthrie, Brett [R-KY-2] reported raising $6.0 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

Recorded votes

House roll call 575 (2016): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, HR985 (2016-11-14): Passed

Words on this page, explained (6)

Appropriation: Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
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).
Fiscal year: The 12-month period a government uses for its budget. The federal fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30 and is named for the calendar year in which it ends. Most states use July 1 to June 30.
Obligation: A binding promise by a government agency to pay money, for example by signing a contract or awarding a grant. Spending data such as USAspending.gov counts money when it is obligated, which can be before it is actually paid out.
Referendum: A vote by the public on a law or measure. Texas statewide propositions are how voters decide on constitutional amendments.
Rulemaking: The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.

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-114hr985.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/114/hr>

Record fed-us-cong114-hr985 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong114 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong114