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H.R. 2986: BEST Act

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H.R. 2986: BEST Act

116th Congress · introduced 2019-05-23 · Energy · Latest: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 379.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2019-05-23 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 379. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. 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

BEST Act

Plain summary

Better Energy Storage Technology Act or the BEST Act This bill addresses grid-scale energy storage systems. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a research and development program for energy storage systems, components, and materials across multiple program offices of DOE, including analyzing the need for various types of energy storage to improve electric grid resilience and reliability; develop a five-year strategic plan that identifies research, development, demonstration, and commercial application goals for the program; support the standardized testing and validation of energy storage systems under the program through collaboration with one or more National Laboratories; provide technical assistance for commercial application of energy storage technologies to eligible entities; create a competitive grant program for the demonstration of energy storage systems that use either a single system or aggregations of multiple systems; and establish a research, development, and demonstration program of recycling of energy storage systems containing critical minerals.

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House), 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

BEST Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Arguments against (opponents)

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Alternatives

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11] · 102 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 2986, BEST Act (2020-06-22)

Cosponsors on this site

Sean Casten (D-IL), Brian K. Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Don Bacon (R-NE), Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX), Ed Case (D-HI), Ken Calvert (R-CA), Randy K. Weber, Sr. (R-TX), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), James A. Himes (D-CT), Rick Larsen (D-WA), Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ), Elise M. Stefanik (R-NY), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Bradley Scott Schneider (D-IL), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Josh Harder (D-CA), Thomas R. Suozzi (D-NY), William R. Keating (D-MA), Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA), Tom Cole (R-OK), Daniel Meuser (R-PA), Veronica Escobar (D-TX), Bryan Steil (R-WI) and 42 more.

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11] reported raising $2.6 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)
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

Record fed-us-cong116-hr2986 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong116 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong116