Energy Technologies Access and Accountability Act

Bill: 114-s-1181
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
Introduced: 2015-05-04
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Budget deficits and national debt

Energy efficiency and conservation

Government lending and loan guarantees

Hybrid, electric, and advanced technology vehicles

Manufacturing

Marine and inland water transportation

Motor vehicles

Performance measurement
Latest action: action_date: 2015-06-09
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-05-04
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Energy Technologies Access and Accountability Act</b></p> <p>This bill amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to reauthorize the advanced technology vehicles manufacturing incentive program through FY2020.</p> <p>An "advanced technology vehicle" under the program shall include:</p> <ul> <li>a U.S.-manufactured, on-highway commercial truck with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or more that meets at least 125% of the average base year combined fuel economy for vehicles with substantially similar attributes, and </li> <li>a U.S.-flagged vessel.</li> </ul> <p>The current Department of Transportation (DOT) facility funding awards to automobile manufacturers, among others, shall extend to U.S. commercial truck manufacturers and vessel manufacturers.</p> <p>DOT, through its Loan Programs Office, shall:</p> <ul> <li>accelerate efforts to engage sufficient engineering expertise to verify that direct loan borrowers under the program are delivering projects in accordance with applicable loan agreements, and</li> <li>develop sufficient and quantifiable performance measures to achieve the intent of the direct loan program.</li> </ul> <p>All proceeds from the repayment of direct loans shall be used by the Treasury to pay down the national debt.</p> <p>The direct loan program shall be repealed on January 1, 2020. </p>

tv_txt: II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1181 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 4, 2015 Mr. Cassidy introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources A BILL To expand the Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Program to include commercial trucks and United States flagged vessels, to return unspent funds and loan proceeds to the United States Treasury to reduce the national debt, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Energy Technologies Access and Accountability Act . 2. Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Incentive Program (a) Definitions Section 136(a) of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 ( 42 U.S.C. 17013(a) ) is amended— (1) by redesignating paragraphs (3), (4), and (5), as paragraphs (4), (5), and (6), respectively; (2) in paragraph (1)— (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) as clauses (i), (ii), and (iii), respectively; (B) in the matter preceding clause (i), as redesignated, by striking means an ultra efficient vehicle or a light duty vehicle that meets— and inserting the following: “means— (A) an ultra efficient vehicle or a light duty vehicle that meets— ; (C) in clause (iii), as redesignated, by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and (D) by adding at the end the following: (B) a commercial truck manufactured in the United States that meets at least 125 percent of the average base year combined fuel economy for vehicles with substantially similar attributes; and (C) a United States flagged vessel. ; (3) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following: (3) Commercial truck The term commercial truck means an on-highway vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or more. ; and (4) by adding at the end the following: (7) United States flagged vessel The term United States flagged vessel means any vessel that has been issued a certificate of documentation under chapter 121 of title 46, United States Code. . (b) Manufacturing grants Section 136(b) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 17013(b) ) is amended— (1) in paragraph (1), by redesignating subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) as clauses (i), (ii), and (iii), respectively; (2) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively; (3) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), as redesignated— (A) by striking The Secretary and inserting the following: (1) Awards authorized The Secretary ; and (B) by inserting commercial truck manufacturers, vessel manufacturers in the United States, after vehicle manufacturers ; and (4) by adding at the end the following: (2) Performance measures The Secretary, through the Loan Programs Office, shall— (A) accelerate efforts to engage sufficient engineering expertise to verify that borrowers under this section are delivering projects in accordance with applicable loan agreements; and (B) develop sufficient and quantifiable performance measures to achieve the intent of the direct loan program established under subsection (d). . (c) Direct loan program (1) Debt reduction Section 136(d) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 17013(d) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (5) Dedication of proceeds to debt reduction All the proceeds from the repayment of loans under this subsection shall be used by the Secretary of the Treasury to pay down the national debt. . (2) Sunset Section 136(d) of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 ( 42 U.S.C. 17013(d) ) shall be repealed on January 1, 2020. (3) National debt repayment Any amount appropriated for loans pursuant to section 136(d) of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 ( 42 U.S.C. 17013(d) ) that remains unobligated as of the date set forth in paragraph (2) is rescinded and shall be used by the Secretary of the Treasury to pay down the national debt. (d) Authorization of appropriations Section 136(i) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 17013(i) ) is amended by striking 2008 through 2012 and inserting 2015 through 2020 .