2009, representing a 39 percent decrease from Jan-
uary and February of 2008. 
(9) The best way to help the United States 
automobile industry and manufacturing base recover 
is to set a goal of selling 15,000,000 new auto-
mobiles in 2009 in order to restart the United 
States economy. 
SEC. 3. NEW AUTOMOBILE VOUCHER PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 
Department of the Treasury a program to be known as 
the ‘‘New Automobile Voucher Program’’, through which 
the Secretary shall— 
(1) authorize the issuance of a voucher, subject 
to the specifications described in subsection (b), to 
a dealer for each person or eligible fleet operator 
who purchases an eligible new automobile from such 
dealer, which voucher shall be applied towards such 
purchase; 
(2) allow any dealer to participate in the Pro-
gram if the dealer agrees to— 
(A) apply a voucher towards the purchase 
of an eligible new automobile as partial pay-
ment for each eligible person or eligible fleet op-
erator at the time of purchase; and 
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(B) comply with all applicable require-
ments under this Act and regulations promul-
gated by the Secretary to carry out this Act; 
(3) establish a Web-based electronic system to 
process the vouchers at the point of sale; 
(4) certify that the Program is operational; and 
(5) make payments to dealers for vouchers ap-
plied by such dealers under paragraph (2) in accord-
ance with the provisions of this section. 
(b) PROGRAM SPECIFICATIONS.— 
(1) VOUCHERS PER PERSON.—Not more than 1 
voucher may be issued for any person, unless such 
person is an eligible fleet operator. 
(2) VOUCHERS
PER
ELIGIBLE
NEW
AUTO-
MOBILE.—Not more than 1 voucher may be applied 
to each eligible new automobile. 
(3) OFFSET.—A dealer— 
(A) shall credit the amount of the voucher 
being applied toward the purchase of an eligible 
new automobile; and 
(B) may not offset the amount of the 
voucher against any other rebate or discount 
otherwise being offered by the dealer or manu-
facturer. 
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(4) COMBINATION
WITH
OTHER
INCENTIVES 
PERMITTED.—Notwithstanding any other provision 
of law, the availability or use of a Federal or State 
tax incentive or a State-issued voucher for the pur-
chase of an eligible new automobile shall not limit 
the value or issuance of a voucher under the Pro-
gram for any eligible person or eligible fleet oper-
ator. 
(5) VOUCHER.— 
(A) PAPERLESS VOUCHER.—Any voucher 
issued under this section shall be issued elec-
tronically through a Web-based electronic sys-
tem. 
(B) VALUE OF VOUCHER DURING THE INI-
TIAL PERIOD.—A voucher issued under the Pro-
gram during the initial period may be applied 
to offset the purchase price of an eligible new 
automobile by $5,000. 
(C) VALUE OF VOUCHER DURING THE SEC-
ONDARY PERIOD.—A voucher issued under the 
Program during the secondary period may be 
applied to offset the purchase price of an eligi-
ble new automobile by $2,500. 
(6) PROMPT
FULFILLMENT
OF
REDEMPTION 
REQUESTS REQUIRED.—The Secretary shall provide 
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for the payment of all vouchers submitted to the 
Secretary for redemption in accordance with the pro-
visions of this Act not later than 10 days after such 
submission, or within such lesser period as the Sec-
retary determines to be practicable. 
(c) RULEMAKING.—Not later than 30 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall pro-
mulgate regulations to implement the Program, including 
the enforcement of the penalties described in section 4. 
(d) DISCLAIMER.—Nothing in this Act or any other 
provision of law limits the authority of Congress or the 
Secretary to terminate or limit the Program or the 
issuance of vouchers under the Program. 
SEC. 4. PENALTIES. 
(a) VIOLATION.—It shall be unlawful for any person 
to commit any fraudulent act in connection with a voucher 
issued under the Program. 
(b) PENALTIES.—Any person who commits a viola-
tion described in subsection (a) shall be liable to the 
United States Government for a civil penalty of not more 
than $10,000 for each violation. 
SEC. 5. REPORT. 
The Secretary shall submit a report to the Congress 
every 6 months that specifies, for the most recent 6-month 
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period, the number of vouchers that have been used under 
the Program. 
SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) AUTOMOBILE.—The term ‘‘automobile’’ has 
the meaning given such term in section 32901(a) of 
title 49, United States Code. 
(2) DEALER.—The term ‘‘dealer’’ means a per-
son residing in a State that is engaged in the sale 
of new automobiles as of the date of introduction of 
this Act to the first person or eligible fleet operator 
that is the ultimate purchaser. 
(3) ELIGIBLE
FLEET
OPERATOR.—The term 
‘‘eligible fleet operator’’ means the operator of a 
fleet of automobiles that is owned by a partnership, 
corporation, association, or public or private organi-
zation. 
(4) INITIAL PERIOD.—The term ‘‘initial period’’ 
means the first 6 months of the Program, beginning 
from the date the Secretary certifies the Program is 
operational. 
(5) NEW AUTOMOBILE.—The term ‘‘new auto-
mobile’’ means an automobile for which a manufac-
turer, distributor, or dealer has never transferred 
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