Auto Industry Emergency Bridge Loan Act

Bill: 110-s-3715
Sponsor: Sen. Levin, Carl [D-MI]
Introduced: 2008-11-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Appropriations
Automobile industry
Automobile parts
Commerce
Corporate governance
Economics and Public Finance
Energy
Energy efficiency
Executive compensation
Executive reorganization
Fuel consumption
Government Operations and Politics
Government lending
Labor and Employment
Lobbying
Motor vehicles
Rescission of appropriated funds
Retail trade
Unemployment

Summary:
action_date: 2008-11-20
text: 
Auto Industry Emergency Bridge Loan Act - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to make loans to automobile manufacturers or component suppliers that have: (1) operations in the United States, the failure of which would have a systemic adverse effect on the overall U.S. economy or a significant loss of U.S. jobs, as determined by the Secretary; and (2) operated a manufacturing facility for the purpose of producing automobiles or automobile components in the U.S. throughout the 20-year period ending on the date of enactment of this Act.
 
Requires any automobile manufacturer or component supplier applying for such a loan to submit to the Secretary a detailed plan describing how the requested government funds would: (1) be utilized to ensure the the manufacturer's or supplier's financial viability; (2) stimulate U.S. automobile production; and (3) improve the manufacturer's or supplier's capacity to pursue the timely and aggressive production of energy-efficient advanced technology vehicles.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to sell, exercise, or surrender any equity instrument received under this Act.
 
Allows proceeds received from a sale, exercise, or surrender to be credited to the appropriate Government financing account made available to fulfill the advanced technology vehicle manufacturing incentive purpose under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 until the amount loaned under this Act has been repaid.
 

 
Directs the Secretary to require any loan recipient to meet appropriate standards for executive compensation and corporate governance. 
 
Prohibits a loan recipient from using loan funds for any lobbying expenditures or political contributions. 
 
Prohibits the payment of common stock dividends by any loan recipient for the duration of the loan.
 
Establishes the Auto Industry Emergency Bridge Loan Oversight Board to review and provide advice concerning the exercise of the authority under this Act.
 
Requires the Secretary, in allocating loan amounts under this Act, to consider the magnitude of the impact of the loan applicant's manufacturing operations in the United States on the overall U.S. economy and other segments of the automobile industry, including levels of employment, domestic manufacturing of automobiles and automobile components, and automobile dealerships.
 
Rescinds the $7.5 billion appropriation for the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program Account for the cost of direct loans as authorized by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. Appropriates the same amount for the cost of direct loans under this Act. Limits commitments for direct loans using such amount to $25 billion in total loan principal.
 

 

 

 

 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-11-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10749-10750)
action_date: 2008-11-20
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10748)
action_date: 2008-11-20
text: Introduced in Senate