[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1606 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1606

             To establish a new automobile voucher program.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 19, 2009

 Mr. Manzullo introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the 
   Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
             To establish a new automobile voucher program.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``New Automobile Voucher Act of 
2009''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) 1 out of every 10 jobs in the United States, or about 
        13,000,000, is related to automobiles.
            (2) The automotive sector represents the largest 
        manufacturing base in the United States and each automobile 
        assembly plant generates about 5 jobs among suppliers and the 
        surrounding community.
            (3) Automobile parts manufacturers account for 4,500,000 
        private industry jobs, including nearly 2,000,000 indirect jobs 
        in industries ranging from steel and plastics to technical 
        services.
            (4) Automobile dealerships employ 1,100,000 workers and 
        account for 18 percent of all retail sales in the United 
        States.
            (5) In 2005, 16,900,000 new automobiles were sold in the 
        United States, but in 2008, only 13,200,000 new automobiles 
        were sold.
            (6) This loss of 3,700,000 new automobile sales, at an 
        average price of $28,400, directly removed $105,000,000,000 
        from the economy.
            (7) Economic multiplier effects of between 3 and 7 percent 
        mean that this decline of new automobile sales translates into 
        a $315,000,000,000 to $735,000,000,000 loss to the economy of 
        the United States.
            (8) Only 1,345,885 vehicles were sold in the United States 
        during January and February of 2009, representing a 39 percent 
        decrease from January and February of 2008.
            (9) The best way to help the United States automobile 
        industry and manufacturing base recover is to set a goal of 
        selling 15,000,000 new automobiles in 2009 in order to restart 
        the United States economy.

SEC. 3. NEW AUTOMOBILE VOUCHER PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established in the Department of the 
Treasury a program to be known as the ``New Automobile Voucher 
Program'', through which the Secretary shall--
            (1) authorize the issuance of a voucher, subject to the 
        specifications described in subsection (b), to a dealer for 
        each person or eligible fleet operator who purchases an 
        eligible new automobile from such dealer, which voucher shall 
        be applied towards such purchase;
            (2) allow any dealer to participate in the Program if the 
        dealer agrees to--
                    (A) apply a voucher towards the purchase of an 
                eligible new automobile as partial payment for each 
                eligible person or eligible fleet operator at the time 
                of purchase; and
                    (B) comply with all applicable requirements under 
                this Act and regulations promulgated by the Secretary 
                to carry out this Act;
            (3) establish a Web-based electronic system to process the 
        vouchers at the point of sale;
            (4) certify that the Program is operational; and
            (5) make payments to dealers for vouchers applied by such 
        dealers under paragraph (2) in accordance with the provisions 
        of this section.
    (b) Program Specifications.--
            (1) Vouchers per person.--Not more than 1 voucher may be 
        issued for any person, unless such person is an eligible fleet 
        operator.
            (2) Vouchers per eligible new automobile.--Not more than 1 
        voucher may be applied to each eligible new automobile.
            (3) Offset.--A dealer--
                    (A) shall credit the amount of the voucher being 
                applied toward the purchase of an eligible new 
                automobile; and
                    (B) may not offset the amount of the voucher 
                against any other rebate or discount otherwise being 
                offered by the dealer or manufacturer.
            (4) Combination with other incentives permitted.--
        Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the availability or 
        use of a Federal or State tax incentive or a State-issued 
        voucher for the purchase of an eligible new automobile shall 
        not limit the value or issuance of a voucher under the Program 
        for any eligible person or eligible fleet operator.
            (5) Voucher.--
                    (A) Paperless voucher.--Any voucher issued under 
                this section shall be issued electronically through a 
                Web-based electronic system.
                    (B) Value of voucher during the initial period.--A 
                voucher issued under the Program during the initial 
                period may be applied to offset the purchase price of 
                an eligible new automobile by $5,000.
                    (C) Value of voucher during the secondary period.--
                A voucher issued under the Program during the secondary 
                period may be applied to offset the purchase price of 
                an eligible new automobile by $2,500.
            (6) Prompt fulfillment of redemption requests required.--
        The Secretary shall provide for the payment of all vouchers 
        submitted to the Secretary for redemption in accordance with 
        the provisions of this Act not later than 10 days after such 
        submission, or within such lesser period as the Secretary 
        determines to be practicable.
    (c) Rulemaking.--Not later than 30 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations to 
implement the Program, including the enforcement of the penalties 
described in section 4.
    (d) Disclaimer.--Nothing in this Act or any other provision of law 
limits the authority of Congress or the Secretary to terminate or limit 
the Program or the issuance of vouchers under the Program.

SEC. 4. PENALTIES.

    (a) Violation.--It shall be unlawful for any person to commit any 
fraudulent act in connection with a voucher issued under the Program.
    (b) Penalties.--Any person who commits a violation described in 
subsection (a) shall be liable to the United States Government for a 
civil penalty of not more than $10,000 for each violation.

SEC. 5. REPORT.

    The Secretary shall submit a report to the Congress every 6 months 
that specifies, for the most recent 6-month period, the number of 
vouchers that have been used under the Program.

SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Automobile.--The term ``automobile'' has the meaning 
        given such term in section 32901(a) of title 49, United States 
        Code.
            (2) Dealer.--The term ``dealer'' means a person residing in 
        a State that is engaged in the sale of new automobiles as of 
        the date of introduction of this Act to the first person or 
        eligible fleet operator that is the ultimate purchaser.
            (3) Eligible fleet operator.--The term ``eligible fleet 
        operator'' means the operator of a fleet of automobiles that is 
        owned by a partnership, corporation, association, or public or 
        private organization.
            (4) Initial period.--The term ``initial period'' means the 
        first 6 months of the Program, beginning from the date the 
        Secretary certifies the Program is operational.
            (5) New automobile.--The term ``new automobile'' means an 
        automobile for which a manufacturer, distributor, or dealer has 
        never transferred the equitable or legal title of such 
        automobile to an ultimate purchaser.
            (6) Eligible new automobile.--The term ``eligible new 
        automobile'' means a new automobile whose purchase price is 
        less than $50,000.
            (7) Person.--The term ``person'' has the meaning given such 
        term in section 551 of title 5, United States Code.
            (8) Program.--The term ``Program'' means the New Automobile 
        Voucher Program established under section 3.
            (9) Secondary period.--The term ``secondary period'' means 
        the time period beginning the day after the initial period has 
        expired and ending December 31, 2010.
            (10) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Treasury.
            (11) State.--The term ``State'' means a State of the United 
        States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Northern 
        Mariana Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Virgin Islands.
            (12) Ultimate purchaser.--The term ``ultimate purchaser'' 
        means, with respect to a new automobile, the first person who 
        purchases such automobile for purposes other than resale.
            (13) Voucher.--The term ``voucher'' means a voucher issued 
        to a person who is purchasing an eligible new automobile 
        pursuant to the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary 
$75,000,000,000 to carry out this Act. Of the amount appropriated under 
this Act, the Secretary shall obligate no more than $50,000,000 to 
cover administrative costs for the Program.
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