I 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 5079 

To establish a program to accurately document vehicles that were significant 

in the history of the United States, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 13, 2019 

Mr. WALBERG (for himself, Mr. LOWENTHAL, Mr. LAMALFA, and Mrs. DINGELL) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 

on Natural Resources 

A BILL 

To establish a program to accurately document vehicles that 

were significant in the history of the United States, 

and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Historic Vehi5 cle Register Act of 2019’’. 

6 SEC. 2. NATIONAL HISTORIC VEHICLE REGISTER. 

7 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 


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1 (1) REGISTER.—The term ‘‘Register’’ means 

2 the National Historic Vehicle Register established 

3 under subsection (b)(1). 

4 (2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

5 the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Di6 rector of the National Park Service. 

7 (3) VEHICLE.—The term ‘‘vehicle’’ includes— 

8 (A) a commercial or noncommercial vehi9 cle; 

10 (B) a motorcycle; and 

11 (C) a truck. 

12 (b) ESTABLISHMENT.— 

13 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish 

14 and maintain a register of historic vehicles, to be 

15 known as the ‘‘National Historic Vehicle Register’’, 

16 which shall include, with respect to each vehicle on 

17 the Register— 

18 (A) a narrative describing the historic vehi19 cle and the historical significance of that vehi20 cle; 

21 (B) a photographic record of the historic 

22 vehicle; and 

23 (C) a line drawing or engineering drawing 

24 of the historic vehicle, as applicable. 


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1 (2) COORDINATION.—The Secretary shall co2 ordinate with the Historic Vehicle Association, the 

3 American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation, and 

4 other appropriate organizations, as determined by 

5 the Secretary, to invite individual, institutional, and 

6 other owners of historic vehicles to participate in the 

7 Register. 

8 (3) LOCATION.—The Register shall be archived 

9 in the Library of Congress. 

10 (c) CRITERIA FOR HISTORIC VEHICLES.— 

11 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall develop 

12 criteria for the inclusion of historic vehicles on the 

13 Register, in accordance with paragraph (2). 

14 (2) FACTORS FOR CONSIDERATION.—In devel15 oping criteria under this subsection, the Secretary 

16 shall take into consideration the following factors, as 

17 applied to a vehicle: 

18 (A) ASSOCIATIVE VALUE.— 

19 (i) EVENTS.—A vehicle associated 

20 with an event that is important in auto21 motive or United States history. 

22 (ii) INDIVIDUALS.—A vehicle associ23 ated with the life of an individual who is 

24 significant in automotive or United States 

25 history. 


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1 (B) DESIGN OR CONSTRUCTION VALUE.— 

2 A vehicle that is distinctive based on— 

3 (i) design; 

4 (ii) engineering; 

5 (iii) craftsmanship; or 

6 (iv) aesthetic value. 

7 (C) INFORMATIONAL VALUE.—A vehicle of 

8 a particular type that— 

9 (i) was the first or last produced of 

10 that type; or 

11 (ii) is among the most well-preserved 

12 or authentically restored examples of that 

13 type. 

14 (d) CONTRACTS AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.— 

15 In carrying out this section, the Secretary may enter into 

16 contracts or cooperative agreements with the Federal Gov17 ernment, State governments, units of local government, 

18 public or private agencies, organizations, associations, in19 stitutions, corporations, other entities, or individuals for 

20 the purpose of sharing costs or services in carrying out 

21 authorized activities of the Secretary in administering the 

22 Register. 

23 (e) EFFECT OF SECTION.—Nothing in this section— 


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1 (1) supersedes any Federal, State, or local envi2 ronmental or air quality standard relating to the op3 eration of a motor vehicle or a historic vehicle; 

4 (2) violates the privacy of the owner of any his5 toric vehicle; or 

6 (3) requires that a historic vehicle be docu7 mented without the consent of the owner. 

8 (f) NO NEW APPROPRIATIONS.—No new appropria9 tions shall be authorized to carry out this section. 

Æ 


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