Saving Energy Through Public Transportation Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-6052
Sponsor: Rep. Oberstar, James L. [D-MN-8]
Introduced: 2008-05-14 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Alternative energy sources
Commuting
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Economics and Public Finance
Electric vehicles
Energy
Energy efficiency
Environmental Protection
Federal aid to transportation
Federal employees
Federal-state relations
Fringe benefits
Fuel consumption
Government Operations and Politics
Government procurement
Intergovernmental fiscal relations
Light rail transit
Mass rapid transit
Motor buses
Motor vehicle pollution control
Natural gas vehicles
Parking facilities
Railroad terminals
Subways
Transportation engineering
Transportation rates
Travel costs
Urban affairs
Urban transportation
User charges

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-14
text: 
Saving Energy Through Public Transportation Act of 2008 - Authorizes appropriations for each of FY2008-FY2009 for public transportation formula grants for urbanized areas and for other areas. Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to make such grants for: (1) operating costs of equipment and facilities being used to provide the public transportation that the grant recipient is no longer able to pay as a result of reducing fares; and (2) operating and capital costs of equipment and facilities being used to provide transportation services that the recipient incurs as a result of expanding such services. Requires the federal share of the costs for such grants to be 100%.

Requires a grant for FY2008-FY2009 that involves acquiring clean fuel or alternative fuel vehicle-related equipment or facilities for the purposes of complying with the Clean Air Act to be for 100% of the net project cost of the equipment or facilities unless the grant recipient requests a lower percentage.

Amends the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users to require: (1) qualified federal agency employees serving in urbanized areas of the United States that are served by fixed route public transportation to be offered transit pass transportation fringe benefits; and (2) the Secretary to issue guidance on nationwide implementation of a transportation fringe benefit program.

Requires the Secretary to establish a pilot program to carry out vanpool demonstration projects in not more than three urbanized areas and not more than two other areas.

Requires a grant for a capital project during FY2008-FY2009 that involves the acquisition of real property for, or the design, engineering, or construction of, additional parking facilities at an end-of-line fixed guideway station to be for 100% of the net capital cost of the project unless the grant recipient requests a lower percentage.

action_date: 2008-06-26
text: 
Saving Energy Through Public Transportation Act of 2008 - (Sec. 3) Authorizes appropriations for each of FY2008-FY2009 for public transportation formula grants for urbanized areas and for other areas. Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to make such grants for: (1) operating costs of equipment and facilities being used to provide the public transportation or intercity bus service that the grant recipient is no longer able to pay as a result of reducing fares; (2) operating and capital costs of equipment and facilities being used to provide transportation services or intercity bus service that the recipient incurs as a result of expanding such services; (3) the avoidance of increased fares for public transportation or intercity bus service or decreased services; (4) the costs of acquiring clean fuel or alternative fuel vehicle-related equipment or facilities for the purpose of improving fuel efficiency; and (5) administrative costs in establishing or expanding commuter matching services to provide commuters with information and assistance about alternatives to single occupancy vehicle use. Requires the federal share of the costs for which such grants are made to be 100%.

(Sec. 4) Requires a grant for FY2008-FY2009 that involves acquiring clean fuel or alternative fuel vehicle-related equipment or facilities for the purposes of complying with the Clean Air Act to be for 100% of the net project cost of the equipment or facilities unless the grant recipient requests a lower percentage.

(Sec. 5) Amends the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users to require federal employees in urbanized areas of the United States that are served by fixed route public transportation to be offered transit pass transportation fringe benefits. Limits such benefits to the maximum amount that may be excluded from gross income for qualified parking for a month under the Internal Revenue Code. Requires: (1) the Secretary to issue guidance on nationwide implementation of a transportation fringe benefit program; (2) such guidance to contain a uniform administrative policy on enforcement and penalties; and (3) agencies to report to the Secretary on their implementation of the program no later than September 1 after this Act's enactment and every there years thereafter.
 
(Sec. 6) Requires the Secretary to establish a pilot program to carry out vanpool demonstration projects in not more than three urbanized areas and not more than two other areas. Requires the Secretary to allow the nonfederal share provided by a recipient of assistance for a capital matching project to include the amount expended by private providers of public transportation by vanpool for the acquisition of vans to be used in the recipient's service area. Authorizes the Secretary to approve an application for a vanpool demonstration project for FY2008-FY2009. Requires the Secretary to report to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs on the costs, benefits, and efficiencies of the vanpool demonstration projects. 
 
(Sec. 7) Requires a grant for a capital project during FY2008-FY2009 that involves the acquisition of real property for, or the design, engineering, or construction of, additional parking facilities at an end-of-line fixed guideway station or at a park-and-ride lot that serves a fixed route commuter bus route that is more than 20 miles in length to be for 100% of the net capital cost of the project unless the grant recipient requests a lower percentage.

(Sec. 8) Requires the Secretary of Transportation to carry out a national consumer awareness program to educate the public on the environmental, energy, and economic benefits of public transportation alternatives to the use of single occupancy vehicles. Authorizes appropriations for FY2009.

(Sec. 9) Amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to set forth an exception to prohibition against federal procurement of an alternative or synthetic fuel for any mobility-related use unless the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions associated with it are less than or equal to the emissions from equivalent conventional fuel. Allows a federal agency to enter into a contract to purchase a generally available fuel that is not an alternative or synthetic fuel or a fuel predominantly produced from a nonconventional petroleum source if: (1) the contract does not specifically require the contractor to provide such an alternative, synthetic, or nonconventional fuel; (2) the purpose of the contract is not to obtain such a fuel; and (3) the contract does not provide incentives for a refinery upgrade or expansion to allow a refinery to use or increase its use of fuel from a nonconventional petroleum source.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-27
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: The Clerk was authorized to correct section numbers, punctuation, and cross references, and to make other necessary technical and conforming corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 6052.
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 322 - 98 (Roll no. 467).
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 322 - 98 (Roll no. 467).
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 199 - 221 (Roll no. 466).
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection. (consideration: CR H6142)
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Walden (OR) motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions in the motion seek to report the same back to the House with amendments to determine the use of funds for meeting fuel-related needs of school bus transportation, and the allocation of funds to school districts.
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: Mr. Walden (OR) moved to recommit with instructions to Transportation. (consideration: CR H6140-6143; text: CR H6140-6141)
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: The House adopted the amendment as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 6052.
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1304, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Hodes amendment.
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1304, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Reichert amendment.
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Mahoney(FL) amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Mahoney(FL) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings until later in the legislative day.
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1304, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Mahoney (FL) amendment.
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1304, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the McGovern amendment.
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1304, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Oberstar amendment.
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 6052.
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: The Speaker designated the Honorable Diana DeGette to act as Chairwoman of the Committee.
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 1304 and Rule XVIII.
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1304. (consideration: CR H6122-6143; text of measure as reported in House: CR H6132-6133)
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 6052 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI.
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: ORDER OF PROCEDURE - Mr. Oberstar asked unanimous consent that, during consideration of H.R. 6052 pursuant to H.Res. 1304, the Chair may reduce to two minutes the minimum time for electronic voting. Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: Rule H. Res. 1304 passed House.
action_date: 2008-06-25
text: Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1304 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 6052 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI.
action_date: 2008-06-20
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 462.
action_date: 2008-06-20
text: Committee on Oversight and Government discharged.
action_date: 2008-06-20
text: Committee on Oversight and Government discharged.
action_date: 2008-06-20
text: Reported by the Committee on Transportation. H. Rept. 110-727, Part I.
action_date: 2008-06-20
text: Reported by the Committee on Transportation. H. Rept. 110-727, Part I.
action_date: 2008-05-15
text: Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2008-05-15
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2008-05-15
text: Subcommittee on Highways and Transit Discharged.
action_date: 2008-05-15
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
action_date: 2008-05-14
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-05-14
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-05-14
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-05-14
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E923-924)
action_date: 2008-05-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-05-14
text: Introduced in House