SEC. 3. ACCELERATED RETIREMENT OF INEFFICIENT VEHI-
CLES PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 
Department of Energy a program to be known as the ‘‘Ac-
celerated Retirement of Inefficient Vehicles Program’’, 
through which the Secretary shall— 
(1) authorize the issuance of a voucher, subject 
to the limitations described in subsection (e)(1), to 
any person or eligible fleet operator who is a reg-
istered owner of an eligible high fuel consumption 
automobile, which voucher may be used solely by 
such person or eligible fleet operator for the pur-
chase of a new or used fuel efficient automobile 
upon the transfer of the certificate of title to such 
high fuel consumption automobile to a dealer, dis-
mantler, or scrap recycling facility participating in 
the Program; 
(2) allow any dealer, dismantler, or scrap recy-
cling facility to participate in the Program if the 
dealer, dismantler, or scrap recycling facility agrees 
to— 
(A) scrap any eligible high fuel consump-
tion automobile upon receiving the certificate of 
title to such automobile pursuant to the Pro-
gram; 
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(B) issue a voucher to the registered owner 
of such automobile; 
(C) certify to the Secretary that such auto-
mobile has been crushed or shredded in accord-
ance with subsection (e)(4); and 
(D) comply with all applicable require-
ments under this Act and any regulations pro-
mulgated by the Secretary to carry out this Act; 
(3) require that all dealers accept vouchers pre-
sented by a person or eligible fleet operator de-
scribed in paragraph (1) as partial payment for the 
purchase of a new or used fuel efficient automobile; 
and 
(4) make payments to dealers for vouchers ac-
cepted by such dealers under paragraph (3) between 
January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2014, in accord-
ance with the provisions of this section. 
(b) AMOUNT OF VOUCHER.— 
(1) VOUCHER REDEMPTION VALUE IF USED TO-
WARD PURCHASE OF NEW A FUEL EFFICIENT AUTO-
MOBILE.—A voucher issued under the Program dur-
ing the 4-year period beginning on January 1, 2009, 
may be applied to offset the purchase price of a new 
fuel efficient automobile by— 
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(A) $4,500 if the eligible high fuel con-
sumption automobile was manufactured for a 
model year that is 7 or fewer years less than 
the calendar year in which the voucher was 
issued; 
(B) $3,000 if the eligible high fuel con-
sumption automobile was manufactured for a 
model year that is 8 to 10 years less than the 
calendar year in which the voucher was issued; 
and 
(C) $2,500 if the eligible high fuel con-
sumption automobile was manufactured for a 
model year that is 11 or more years less than 
the calendar year in which the voucher was 
issued. 
(2) VOUCHER REDEMPTION VALUE IF USED TO-
WARD
PURCHASE
OF
A
USED
FUEL
EFFICIENT 
AUTOMOBILE.—A voucher issued under the Program 
during the 4-year period beginning on January 1, 
2009, may be applied to offset the purchase price of 
a used fuel efficient automobile by— 
(A) $3,000 if the eligible high fuel con-
sumption automobile was manufactured for a 
model year that is 7 or fewer years less than 
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the calendar year in which the voucher was 
issued; 
(B) $2,000 if the eligible high fuel con-
sumption automobile was manufactured for a 
model year that is 8 to 10 years less than the 
calendar year in which the voucher was issued; 
and 
(C) $1,500 if the eligible high fuel con-
sumption automobile was manufactured for a 
model year that is 11 or more years less than 
the calendar year in which the voucher was 
issued. 
(3) VOUCHER REDEMPTION VALUE IF USED TO-
WARD
PURCHASE
OF
A
HIGHLY
FUEL
EFFICIENT 
AUTOMOBILE.—The values determined under para-
graphs (1) or (2) shall be increased by $1,000 if the 
voucher issued under the Program is applied to off-
set the purchase price of a fuel efficient automobile 
that achieves a measured fuel economy level that ex-
ceeds by 50 percent the fuel economy standard pre-
scribed by the Secretary of Transportation under 
section 32902 of title 49, United States Code, for 
the model year and compliance category of such 
automobile. 
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(4) VOUCHER
REDEMPTION
VALUE
IF
USED 
FOR
TRANSIT
FARE
CREDITS.—A voucher issued 
under the program during the 4-year period begin-
ning on January 1, 2009, may be applied to acquire 
single-passenger transit fare credits from partici-
pating transit operators in an amount equal to the 
amounts provided under paragraph (2). 
(c) ADMINISTRATIVE PAYMENTS TO PARTICIPATING 
DEALERS, DISMANTLERS, AND SCRAP RECYCLING FA-
CILITIES.—The Secretary shall provide for a payment of 
$50, or another amount determined reasonable by the Sec-
retary, to participating dealers, dismantlers, and scrap re-
cycling facilities for each voucher issued under the Pro-
gram in consideration of the administrative costs related 
to such issuance. 
(d) LISTS OF ELIGIBLE AUTOMOBILES TO BE MAIN-
TAINED.—The Secretary, in cooperation with the Sec-
retary of Transportation, shall prepare, maintain, pub-
licize, and make available through the Internet, lists of 
automobiles, classified by make and model, which are clas-
sified under this section as— 
(1) eligible high fuel consumption automobiles; 
(2) new fuel efficient automobiles; or 
(3) used fuel efficient automobiles. 
(e) PROGRAM SPECIFICATIONS.— 
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(1) LIMITATIONS.— 
(A) VOUCHERS PER PERSON.—Not more 
than 1 voucher may be issued to a person in 
any period of 3 successive calendar years. A 
person may be issued a voucher if the person 
demonstrates, in a manner prescribed by rule 
by the Secretary, that such person— 
(i) is the registered owner of an eligi-
ble high fuel consumption automobile; and 
(ii) attests that such high fuel con-
sumption automobile has not been im-
ported into the United States during the 
previous 4-month period. 
(B) VOUCHERS FOR ELIGIBLE FLEETS.—A 
voucher for the purchase of a new or used fuel 
efficient automobile from a dealer may be 
issued to an eligible fleet operator for each eligi-
ble high fuel consumption automobile for which 
such eligible fleet operator is the registered 
owner, as demonstrated in a manner prescribed 
by rule by the Secretary. 
(C) OFFSET.—A dealer— 
(i) shall credit the amount of the 
voucher being applied toward the purchase 
of a fuel efficient automobile; and 
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(ii) may not offset the amount of the 
voucher against any other rebate or dis-
count otherwise being offered by the dealer 
or manufacturer. 
(D) JOINT OWNERSHIP.—Not more than 1 
voucher may be issued to the joint owners of an 
eligible high fuel consumption automobile, un-
less such automobile is operated by an eligible 
fleet operator. 
(E) NO COMBINATION OF VOUCHERS.—A 
person may not apply 2 or more vouchers 
issued under the Program toward the purchase 
of a single fuel efficient automobile. 
(F) COMBINATION
WITH
OTHER
INCEN-
TIVES 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 purchase of a fuel efficient 
automobile shall not limit the value or issuance 
of a voucher under the Program to any person 
or eligible fleet operator otherwise eligible to re-
ceive such a voucher. 
(G) DURATION.—Each voucher shall ex-
pire 2 years after the date on which the voucher 
is issued and may not be renewed. 
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(H) PROMPT FULFILLMENT OF REDEMP-
TION
REQUESTS
REQUIRED.—The Secretary 
shall provide for the payment of all vouchers 
submitted to the Secretary for redemption in 
accordance with the provisions of this Act not 
later than 60 days after such submission, or 
within such lesser period as the Secretary deter-
mines to be practicable. 
(I) NUMBER
AND
AMOUNT.—The total 
number and value of vouchers issued under the 
Program may not exceed the amounts appro-
priated for such purpose. 
(2) CONSUMER
EDUCATION
PROGRAM.—The 
Secretary shall carry out a consumer education pro-
gram aimed at informing persons about the Pro-
gram, its fuel economy purposes, and the availability 
of vouchers under the Program. 
(3) TRANSIT
FARE
CREDITS.—The Secretary 
shall promulgate regulations that allow operators of 
bus and rail public transit systems to redeem vouch-
ers properly issued to any person under this Act to 
offset the purchase price of annual transit passes or 
any other form of individual transit fare credit des-
ignated by the transit system operator. Participating 
transit system operators shall establish the terms 
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and conditions for the ownership, use, and expira-
tion of any transit fare credits acquired through the 
use of a voucher issued under this Act. 
(4) DISPOSITION OF ELIGIBLE HIGH FUEL CON-
SUMPTION AUTOMOBILES.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Any automobile dealer, 
dismantler, or scrap recycling facility who re-
ceives a certificate of title to any eligible high 
fuel consumption automobile in exchange for a 
voucher under the Program shall certify to the 
Secretary, in such manner as the Secretary 
shall prescribe by rule, that such automobile 
and engine— 
(i) have been crushed or shredded 
within such period as the Secretary pre-
scribes; 
(ii) have been processed prior to 
crushing or shredding to ensure the re-
moval and appropriate disposition of re-
frigerants, antifreeze, lead products, mer-
cury switches, and such other toxic or haz-
ardous vehicle components as the Secretary 
may specify by rule; and 
(iii) have not been, and will not be, 
sold, leased, exchanged, or otherwise dis-
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posed of for use as an automobile in the 
United States or in any other country. 
(B) SAVINGS PROVISION.—Nothing in sub-
paragraph (A) may be construed to preclude a 
dismantler from— 
(i) selling any parts of such scrapped 
automobile other than the engine block and 
drive train for use as replacement parts; or 
(ii) retaining the proceeds from such 
sale. 
(C) COORDINATION.—The Secretary shall 
coordinate with the Attorney General to ensure 
that the National Motor Vehicle Title Informa-
tion System is appropriately updated to reflect 
the crushing or shredding of high fuel consump-
tion automobiles under this section. 
(f) RULEMAKING.—Not later than 120 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall pro-
mulgate regulations to implement the Program, includ-
ing— 
(1) the removal and disposition of toxic or haz-
ardous materials from eligible high fuel consumption 
vehicles presented for participation in the program; 
and 
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(2) the enforcement of the penalties described 
in section 4. 
(g) 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 violate any provision under this Act or any regulations 
issued pursuant to section 3(f). 
(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 $5,000 for each violation. A separate violation shall 
be deemed to have occurred for each day the person con-
tinues to be in violation of any provision under this Act. 
SEC. 5. REPORT. 
The Secretary shall submit a report to the Committee 
on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of 
the Senate every 6 months that specifies, for the most re-
cent 6-month period— 
(1) the number of vouchers which have been 
used under the Program; and 
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(2) the make, model, model year, location of 
sale, and manufacturing location of each vehicle 
traded in or purchased under the Program. 
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated, for each of 
the fiscal years 2009 through 2014, such sums as may 
be necessary to carry out this Act, which shall remain 
available until expended. 
Æ 
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