American Cars, American Jobs Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-3324
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2018-08-01
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Buy American requirements

Canada

Consumer affairs

Corporate finance and management

Department of Transportation

Foreign and international corporations

Government information and archives

Income tax deductions

Lease and rental services

Manufacturing

Motor vehicles

Retail and wholesale trades

Taxation of foreign income

Unemployment
Latest action: action_date: 2018-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Summaries:
action_date: 2018-08-01
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>American Cars, American Jobs Act of 2018</strong></p> <p> This bill establishes in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration the American Cars, American Jobs Program. Under the program, the Department of Transportation must issue vouchers of $3,500 to offset the purchase or lease price of a new automobile made in the United States if at least 45% of the automobile's parts come from the United States or Canada and assembly of the automobile occurs in the United States.</p> <p>The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to disallow a tax deduction for the global low-tax income of certain foreign subsidiaries of U.S. automakers whose profits exceed a specified percentage of their value.</p> <p>

tv_txt: II 115th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3324 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES August 1, 2018 Mr. Brown introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To establish a voluntary program in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to encourage consumers to purchase or lease new automobiles made in the United States, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the American Cars, American Jobs Act of 2018 . 2. American Cars, American Jobs Program (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Automobile The term automobile has the meaning given the term in section 32901(a) of title 49, United States Code. (2) Automobile made in the United States The term automobile made in the United States means an automobile that meets the requirements described in subsection (c). (3) Dealer The term dealer means a person licensed by a State who engages in the sale of new automobiles to ultimate purchasers. (4) Program The term Program means the American Cars, American Jobs Program established by subsection (b). (5) Qualifying lease The term qualifying lease means a lease of an automobile for a period of not less than 5 years. (6) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Transportation, acting through the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (7) Ultimate purchaser The term ultimate purchaser means, with respect to any new automobile, the first person who in good faith purchases the automobile for purposes other than resale. (8) Vehicle identification number The term vehicle identification number means the 17-character number used by the automobile industry to identify individual automobiles. (9) Voucher The term voucher means an electronic transfer of funds to a dealer based on an eligible transaction under this section. (b) Establishment There is established in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration a voluntary program, to be known as the American Cars, American Jobs Program , through which the Secretary, in accordance with this section and the regulations promulgated under subsection (e), shall— (1) authorize the issuance of an electronic voucher, subject to the limitations described in subsection (d), to offset the purchase price or lease price for a qualifying purchase or qualifying lease, respectively, of a new automobile made in the United States; (2) register dealers for participation in the Program and require that all registered dealers accept vouchers as provided in this section as partial payment or down payment for the purchase or qualifying lease of any new automobile made in the United States offered for sale or lease by that dealer; (3) in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, make electronic payments to dealers for eligible transactions by the dealers described in paragraph (2), in accordance with the regulations promulgated under subsection (e); and (4) in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and the Inspector General of the Department of Transportation, establish and provide for the enforcement of measures to prevent and penalize fraud under the Program. (c) Qualifications for and value of vouchers A voucher issued under the Program shall have a value of $3,500 that may be applied to offset the purchase price or lease price for a purchase or qualifying lease, respectively, of a new automobile made in the United States, if the automobile— (1) for the most recent model year, is determined by the Secretary to contain content of which not less than 45 percentage (by value) is of United States/Canadian origin (as those terms are defined in section 32304(a) of title 49, United States Code); and (2) is assembled in the United States. (d) Program limitations (1) General period of eligibility A voucher issued under the Program shall be used only in connection with the purchase or qualifying lease of a new automobile made in the United States that occurs during the period— (A) beginning on the date that is 75 days after the date of enactment of this Act; and (B) ending on the date that is 2 years after the date described in subparagraph (A). (2) Number of vouchers per person and per trade-in vehicle Not more than 1 voucher may be issued under the Program for a single person. (3) No combination of vouchers Only 1 voucher issued under the Program may be applied toward the purchase or qualifying lease of a single new automobile made in the United States. (4) Combination with other incentives permitted The availability or use of a Federal, State, or local incentive or a State-issued voucher for the purchase or lease of a new automobile made in the United States shall not limit the value or issuance of a voucher under the Program to any person otherwise eligible to receive such a voucher. (5) No additional fees A dealer participating in the Program may not charge a person purchasing or leasing a new automobile made in the United States any additional fees associated with the use of a voucher under the Program. (6) Number and amount The total number and value of vouchers issued under the Program may not exceed the amounts appropriated for that purpose. (e) Regulations (1) In general Notwithstanding section 553 of title 5, United States Code, not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall promulgate final regulations to implement the Program. (2) Requirements The regulations under paragraph (1) shall— (A) provide for a means of registering dealers for participation in the Program; (B) establish procedures for the reimbursement of dealers participating in the Program to be made through electronic transfer of funds for the amount of the vouchers as soon as practicable, but not longer than 10 days, after the date of submission of information supporting the eligible transaction, as the Secretary determines to be appropriate; (C) require each applicable dealer to use a voucher under the Program in addition to any other rebate or discount advertised by the dealer or offered by the manufacturer for an applicable new automobile made in the United States; and (D) prohibit each applicable dealer from using a voucher under the Program to offset any other rebate or discount described in subparagraph (C). (f) Anti-Fraud provisions (1) Violation It shall be unlawful for any person to violate this section or any regulations promulgated pursuant to subsection (e) (other than by making a clerical error). (2) Penalties (A) In general Any person who commits a violation described in paragraph (1) shall be liable to the Federal Government for a civil penalty of not more than $15,000 for each violation. (B) Authority of the Secretary The Secretary may— (i) assess and compromise penalties under subparagraph (A); and (ii) require from any person the records and inspections necessary to enforce the Program. (C) Determination In determining the amount of a civil penalty under this paragraph, the severity of the applicable violation and the intent and history of the person committing the violation shall be taken into account. (g) Information to consumers and dealers (1) In general Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and promptly after receiving any update of any relevant information, the Secretary shall make available on an internet website and through other means determined by the Secretary information about the Program, including— (A) how to participate in the Program, including how to determine participating dealers; and (B) a comprehensive list, by make and model, of new automobiles made in the United States meeting the requirements of the Program. (2) Public awareness campaign Once the information described in paragraph (1) is available, the Secretary shall conduct a public awareness campaign to inform consumers about the Program and where to obtain additional information. (h) Recordkeeping and report (1) Database The Secretary shall maintain a database of the vehicle identification numbers of all new automobiles made in the United States purchased or leased under the Program. (2) Report on efficacy of the Program Not later than 60 days after the end of the period described in subsection (d)(1), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report describing the efficacy of the Program, including— (A) a description of Program results, including— (i) the total number and amount of vouchers issued for purchase or qualifying lease of new automobiles made in the United States by— (I) manufacturer (including aggregate information concerning the make, model, and model year); and (II) category of automobile; and (ii) the location of sale or qualifying lease; and (B) an estimate of the overall economic and employment effects of the Program. (i) Exclusion of vouchers from income (1) For purposes of all Federal and State programs A voucher issued under this section or any payment made for such a voucher under subsection (b)(3) shall not be regarded as income and shall not be regarded as a resource for the month of receipt of the voucher and the following 12 months, for purposes of determining the eligibility of the recipient of the voucher (or a spouse or other family or household members of the recipients) for benefits or assistance, or the amount or extent of benefits or assistance, under any Federal or State program. (2) For purposes of taxation A voucher issued under this section or any payment made for such a voucher under subsection (b)(3) shall be deemed not to be income of the purchaser of an automobile for purposes of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. (j) Authorization of appropriations (1) In general There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $3,000,000,000 to carry out the Program, to remain available until expended. (2) Administration Of the amounts appropriated under paragraph (1), not more than $1,000,000 may be made available for the administration of the Program. 3. Disallowance of deduction for global low-taxed income for certain automobile companies (a) In general Section 250 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended— (1) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); and (2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following: (c) Special rule for certain motor vehicle manufacturers (1) In general The amount determined under subsection (a)(1)(B) shall be zero for any taxable year of a domestic corporation described in paragraph (2) if the number of full-time employees of such corporation performing substantially all of their services inside the United States during such taxable year is less than the number of such employees on December 20, 2017. (2) Domestic corporation described A domestic corporation is described in this paragraph with respect to any taxable year if such domestic corporation— (A) is a manufacturer (within the meaning of section 30B) of motor vehicles (as defined in section 30B(h)(1)), and (B) is a United States shareholder of a controlled foreign corporation which increases the number of full-time employees of such controlled foreign corporation during period comprising of the taxable year of such domestic corporation. . (b) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of enactment of this Act.