(f) TERMINATION.—The working group established 
under subsection (a) shall terminate on the date on which 
the working group submits the report required under sub-
section (b)(2). 
(g) FACA.—Chapter 10 of title 5, United States 
Code (commonly referred to as the ‘‘Federal Advisory 
Committee Act’’), shall not apply to the working group 
established under subsection (a). 
SEC. 14. STUDY ON PASSENGER MOTOR VEHICLE OWNER-
SHIP. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall seek to 
enter into an agreement with the National Academies of 
Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine under which the Na-
tional Academies shall conduct a study on the average age 
of passenger motor vehicles and passenger motor vehicle 
ownership costs. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The study conducted under sub-
section (a) shall include an analysis of the following: 
(1) Trends with respect to the average age of 
passenger motor vehicles. 
(2) Trends with respect to passenger motor ve-
hicle ownership costs, including trends with respect 
to— 
(A) total lifecycle costs; and 
(B) related factors, including— 
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(i) initial purchase price; 
(ii) motor vehicle manufacturing and 
supply chain matters; 
(iii) financing; 
(iv) insurance; 
(v) subscriptions; 
(vi) power requirements, such as with 
respect to electricity, gasoline, and other 
fuels; 
(vii) repair and maintenance; 
(viii) depreciation; 
(ix) optional safety features; and 
(x) optional convenience features. 
(3) Legal, policy, economic, and regulatory fac-
tors that affect the average age of passenger motor 
vehicles, passenger motor vehicle ownership costs, 
and consumer understanding of such costs. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 3 years after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall sub-
mit to the relevant congressional committees a report on 
the results of the study conducted under subsection (a). 
SEC. 15. AUTOMATED WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT SYS-
TEMS. 
(a) STUDY.—The Administrator shall conduct a 
study on the feasibility of incorporating, into motor vehi-
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cles, automated wheelchair securement systems to increase 
the safety of wheelchair users in motor vehicles. 
(b) COORDINATION WITH UNIVERSITY TRANSPOR-
TATION CENTERS.—In conducting the study under sub-
section (a), the Administrator shall consult with university 
transportation centers established and operated under sec-
tion 5505 of title 49, United States Code. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 3 years after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall sub-
mit to the relevant congressional committees and make 
publicly available a report on the findings of the study con-
ducted under subsection (a) that includes an analysis of 
the feasibility of incorporating, into motor vehicles, auto-
mated wheelchair securement systems. 
(d) AUTOMATED WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT SYS-
TEM DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘automated 
wheelchair securement system’’ means an automated sys-
tem that, using a universal docking interface geometry 
standard, secures a wheelchair within a motor vehicle uti-
lizing a deployable anchor. 
SEC. 16. STUDY ON MODERNIZING VEHICLE IDENTIFICA-
TION NUMBERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall conduct 
a study on modernizing the VIN system. 
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(b) CONTENTS.—The study required by subsection 
(a) shall analyze the following: 
(1) How the VIN system is used by the fol-
lowing: 
(A) The Administrator. 
(B) Heads of other relevant Federal agen-
cies (as determined by the Administrator). 
(C) State and local governments. 
(D) Manufacturers. 
(E) Law enforcement. 
(F) The property and casualty insurance 
industry. 
(G) Any other user the Administrator de-
termines appropriate. 
(2) Any limitations of the VIN system, includ-
ing with respect to motor vehicle safety and regu-
latory compliance. 
(3) Recommendations for Congress and the Ad-
ministration to improve the VIN system, including 
with respect to motor vehicle attributes. 
(c) CONSULTATION.—In conducting the study re-
quired by subsection (a), the Administrator shall consult 
with the following: 
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(1) State motor vehicle agencies that are re-
sponsible for the registration and titling of motor ve-
hicles. 
(2) State and local law enforcement agencies. 
(3) Emergency responders. 
(4) Roadway safety organizations. 
(5) Consumer motor vehicle safety organiza-
tions. 
(6) International standards organizations. 
(7) Manufacturers. 
(8) Dealers. 
(9) The property and casualty insurance indus-
try. 
(10) Any other stakeholder the Administrator 
determines appropriate. 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall sub-
mit to the relevant congressional committees a report on 
the results of the study required by subsection (a). 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) MOTOR VEHICLE ATTRIBUTES.—The term 
‘‘motor vehicle attributes’’ means the following: 
(A) Means of propulsion. 
(B) Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Level 4, and 
Level 5 automation. 
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(C) Driver assistance technology. 
(D) Electrification specification, including 
with respect to battery capacity and charging 
capability. 
(E) Connectivity requirements. 
(F) Over-the-air update capability. 
(2) VIN.—The term ‘‘VIN’’ has the meaning 
given such term in section 565.12(b) of title 49, 
Code of Federal Regulations. 
SEC. 17. MOTOR VEHICLE FIRE RESCUE WORKING GROUP. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
shall establish the Motor Vehicle Fire Rescue Working 
Group (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Working 
Group’’) to provide independent advice and recommenda-
tions to the Secretary and the Administrator on matters 
related to ensuring the safe and efficient extraction of oc-
cupants of motor vehicles post-crash. 
(b) MEMBERS.—The Working Group shall be com-
posed of 15 members, appointed by the Administrator, as 
follows: 
(1) 4 representatives of manufacturers of pas-
senger motor vehicles. 
(2) 2 representatives of national consumer 
motor vehicle safety organizations. 
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(3) 4 representatives of organizations that rep-
resent first responders, including firefighters. 
(4) 2 representatives of institutions of higher 
education (as defined as section 102 of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002)) with ex-
pertise in motor vehicle and motor vehicle battery 
safety. 
(5) 2 representatives of manufacturers of motor 
vehicle batteries. 
(6) 1 representative of manufacturers of fire 
rescue tools. 
(c) TERMS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Each member appointed to 
the Working Group— 
(A) shall serve an initial term of 4 years 
(or until the Working Group terminates under 
subsection (h), if earlier); and 
(B) may be reappointed for 1 subsequent 
term of 4 years (or until the Working Group 
terminates under subsection (h), if earlier). 
(2) EXCEPTION.—Notwithstanding paragraph 
(1), with respect to the first 15 members appointed 
to the Working Group, 7 shall be chosen by the Ad-
ministrator to serve an initial term of 2 years. 
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(d) RATE OF PAY.—Each member of the Working 
Group shall serve without pay. 
(e) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member of the Work-
ing Group shall receive travel expenses, including per diem 
in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with applicable provi-
sions under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United 
States Code. 
(f) DUTIES.—The duties of the Working Group shall 
be the following: 
(1) Review, assess, and evaluate factors to fa-
cilitate the safe and efficient post-crash access of 
first responders to motor vehicles, including the fol-
lowing: 
(A) Post-crash fire rescue tools. 
(B) Modifications to the design, construc-
tion, and performance of motor vehicles to im-
prove access points for first responders. 
(C) Standardized motor vehicle fuel type 
labeling. 
(D) Fire suppression methods appropriate 
for motor vehicle batteries. 
(E) Any design or engineering of motor ve-
hicle batteries that minimizes thermal runaway 
incidents. 
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(F) Any other relevant factor reviewed, as-
sessed, and evaluated by the Working Group. 
(2) Provide recommendations to the Secretary 
and the Administrator about the factors reviewed, 
assessed, and evaluated under subsection (a). 
(g) REPORT.—Not later than 3 years after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Working Group shall sub-
mit to the relevant congressional committees a report 
about the work the Working Group has done pursuant to 
subsection (f), including any recommendations provided 
pursuant to subsection (f)(2). 
(h) TERMINATION.—The Working Group shall termi-
nate on the date that is 60 days after the date on which 
the report is submitted pursuant to subsection (g). 
(i) FACA.—Chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code 
(commonly referred to as the ‘‘Federal Advisory Com-
mittee Act’’), shall not apply to the Working Group. 
SEC. 18. PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT EXEMPTION. 
(a) RESEARCH EFFICIENCY.—Research performed by 
the Administrator pursuant to sections 30181, 30182, 
30183, and 32502(g) of title 49, United States Code, is 
exempt from subchapter I of chapter 35 of title 44, United 
States Code (commonly known as the Paperwork Reduc-
tion Act). 
(b) COMMITTEE EFFICIENCY.—— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—Solicitation of information, 
data, research, and evidence by the Committee pur-
suant to sections 30181, 30182, 30183, and 
32502(g) of title 49, United States Code, is exempt 
from subchapter I of chapter 35 of title 44, United 
States Code (commonly known as the Paperwork 
Reduction Act). 
(2) COMMITTEE DEFINED.—In this subsection, 
the term ‘‘Committee’’ means the NCAP Advisory 
Committee established under section 4(b)(1) of this 
Act. 
Æ 
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