A bill to authorize the Architect of the Capitol to establish battery recharging stations for privately owned vehicles in parking areas under the jurisdiction of the Senate at no net cost to the Federal Government.
PL 112-167 (S.739), enacted 08/10/2012

126 STAT. 1296 
PUBLIC LAW 112–167—AUG. 10, 2012 
Public Law 112–167 
112th Congress 
An Act 
To authorize the Architect of the Capitol to establish battery recharging stations 
for privately owned vehicles in parking areas under the jurisdiction of the Senate 
at no net cost to the Federal Government. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. BATTERY RECHARGING STATIONS FOR PRIVATELY OWNED 
VEHICLES IN PARKING AREAS UNDER THE JURISDIC-
TION OF THE SENATE AT NO NET COST TO THE FED-
ERAL GOVERNMENT. 
(a) DEFINITION.—In this Act, the term ‘‘covered employee’’ 
means— 
(1) an employee whose pay is disbursed by the Secretary 
of the Senate; or 
(2) any other individual who is authorized to park in any 
parking area under the jurisdiction of the Senate on Capitol 
Grounds. 
(b) AUTHORITY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (3), funds appro-
priated to the Architect of the Capitol under the heading ‘‘CAP-
ITOL POWER PLANT’’ under the heading ‘‘ARCHITECT OF THE 
CAPITOL’’ in any fiscal year are available to construct, operate, 
and maintain on a reimbursable basis battery recharging sta-
tions in parking areas under the jurisdiction of the Senate 
on Capitol Grounds for use by privately owned vehicles used 
by Senators or covered employees. 
(2) VENDORS AUTHORIZED.—In carrying out paragraph (1), 
the Architect of the Capitol may use 1 or more vendors on 
a commission basis. 
(3) APPROVAL OF CONSTRUCTION.—The Architect of the Cap-
itol may construct or direct the construction of battery re-
charging stations described under paragraph (1) after— 
(A) submission of written notice detailing the numbers 
and locations of the battery recharging stations to the 
Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate; 
and 
(B) approval by that Committee. 
(c) FEES AND CHARGES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), the Architect 
of the Capitol shall charge fees or charges for electricity pro-
vided to Senators and covered employees sufficient to cover 
the costs to the Architect of the Capitol to carry out this 
section, including costs to any vendors or other costs associated 
with maintaining the battery recharging stations. 
2 USC 2170. 
Aug. 10, 2012 
[S. 739] 
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126 STAT. 1297 
PUBLIC LAW 112–167—AUG. 10, 2012 
(2) APPROVAL OF FEES OR CHARGES.—The Architect of the 
Capitol may establish and adjust fees or charges under para-
graph (1) after— 
(A) submission of written notice detailing the amount 
of the fee or charge to be established or adjusted to the 
Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate; 
and 
(B) approval by that Committee. 
(d) DEPOSIT AND AVAILABILITY OF FEES, CHARGES, AND COMMIS-
SIONS.—Any fees, charges, or commissions collected by the Architect 
of the Capitol under this section shall be— 
(1) deposited in the Treasury to the credit of the appropria-
tions account described under subsection (b); and 
(2) available for obligation without further appropriation 
during— 
(A) the fiscal year collected; and 
(B) the fiscal year following the fiscal year collected. 
(e) REPORTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days after the end 
of each fiscal year, the Architect of the Capitol shall submit 
a report on the financial administration and cost recovery of 
activities under this section with respect to that fiscal year 
to the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate. 
(2) AVOIDING SUBSIDY.— 
(A) DETERMINATION.—Not later than 3 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act and every 3 years thereafter, 
the Architect of the Capitol shall submit a report to the 
Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate 
determining whether Senators and covered employees 
using battery charging stations as authorized by this Act 
are receiving a subsidy from the taxpayers. 
(B) MODIFICATION OF RATES AND FEES.—If a determina-
tion is made under subparagraph (A) that a subsidy is 
being received, the Architect of the Capitol shall submit 
a plan to the Committee on Rules and Administration 
of the Senate on how to update the program to ensure 
no subsidy is being received. If the committee does not 
act on the plan within 60 days, the Architect of the Capitol 
shall take appropriate steps to increase rates or fees to 
ensure reimbursement for the cost of the program con-
sistent with an appropriate schedule for amortization, to 
be charged to those using the charging stations. 
Plan. 
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126 STAT. 1298 
PUBLIC LAW 112–167—AUG. 10, 2012 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 739: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 158 (2012): 
May 24, considered and passed Senate. 
Aug. 2, considered and passed House. 
(f) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This Act shall apply with respect to fiscal 
year 2011 and each fiscal year thereafter. 
Approved August 10, 2012. 
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