National Historic Vehicle Register Act of 2017

To establish a program to accurately document vehicles that were significant in the history of the United States, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the National Historic Vehicle Register Act of 2017 2. National Historic Vehicle Register (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Register The term Register (2) Secretary The term Secretary (3) Vehicle The term vehicle (A) a commercial or noncommercial vehicle; (B) a motorcycle; and (C) a truck. (b) Establishment (1) In general The Secretary shall establish and maintain a register of historic vehicles, to be known as the National Historic Vehicle Register (A) a narrative describing the historic vehicle and the historical significance of that vehicle; (B) a photographic record of the historic vehicle; and (C) a line drawing or engineering drawing of the historic vehicle, as applicable. (2) Coordination The Secretary shall coordinate with the Historic Vehicle Association, the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation, and other appropriate organizations, as determined by the Secretary, to invite individual, institutional, and other owners of historic vehicles to participate in the Register. (3) Location The Register shall be archived in the Library of Congress. (c) Criteria for historic vehicles (1) In general The Secretary shall develop criteria for the inclusion of historic vehicles on the Register, in accordance with paragraph (2). (2) Factors for consideration In developing criteria under this subsection, the Secretary shall take into consideration the following factors, as applied to a vehicle: (A) Associative value (i) Events A vehicle associated with an event that is important in automotive or United States history. (ii) Individuals A vehicle associated with the life of an individual who is significant in automotive or United States history. (B) Design or construction value A vehicle that is distinctive based on— (i) design; (ii) engineering; (iii) craftsmanship; or (iv) aesthetic value. (C) Informational value A vehicle of a particular type that— (i) was the first or last produced of that type; or (ii) is among the most well-preserved or authentically restored examples of that type. (d) Contracts and cooperative agreements In carrying out this section, the Secretary may enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with the Federal Government, State governments, units of local government, public or private agencies, organizations, associations, institutions, corporations, other entities, or individuals for the purpose of sharing costs or services in carrying out authorized activities of the Secretary in administering the Register. (e) Effect of section Nothing in this section— (1) supersedes any Federal, State, or local environmental or air quality standard relating to the operation of a motor vehicle or a historic vehicle; (2) violates the privacy of the owner of any historic vehicle; or (3) requires that a historic vehicle be documented without the consent of the owner. (f) No new appropriations No new appropriations shall be authorized to carry out this section.

Summary: National Historic Vehicle Register Act of 2017 This bill directs the National Park Service (NPS) to establish and maintain a National Historic Vehicle Register which shall include: (1) a narrative describing each historic vehicle and its historical significance, (2) a photographic record of the vehicle, and (3) a line drawing or engineering drawing of the vehicle. Such register shall be archived in the Library of Congress. The NPS shall: (1) coordinate with the Historic Vehicle Association, American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation, and other appropriate organizations in order to invite owners of historic vehicles to participate in the register; and (2) develop criteria for the inclusion of historic vehicles on the register. When developing such criteria, the NPS shall consider whether a vehicle is: (1) associated with an important event or a significant individual in automotive or U.S. history; (2) distinctive based on design, engineering, craftsmanship, or aesthetic value; or (3) of a particular type that was the first or last produced or among the most well-preserved or authentically restored examples of that type.