[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1622 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1622


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 22, 2009

   Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and 
                           Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
To provide for a program of research, development, and demonstration on 
                         natural gas vehicles.

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

SECTION 1. NATURAL GAS VEHICLE RESEARCH,
              DEVELOPMENT, AND DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Energy shall
conduct a 5-year program of natural gas vehicle research, development, 
and demonstration. The Secretary shall
coordinate with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection 
Agency, as necessary.
    (b) Purpose.--The program under this section shall focus on--
            (1) the continued improvement and development of new, 
        cleaner, more efficient light-duty, medium-duty, and heavy-duty 
        natural gas vehicle engines;
            (2) the integration of those engines into light-duty, 
        medium-duty, and heavy-duty natural gas
        vehicles for onroad and offroad applications;
            (3) expanding product availability by ensuring that 
        technologies researched and developed assist
        engines and vehicles in meeting Federal and State
        requirements and standards;
            (4) the demonstration and proper operation and use of the 
        vehicles described in paragraph (2) under all operating 
        conditions;
            (5) the development and improvement of
        nationally recognized codes and standards for the
        continued safe operation of natural gas vehicles and their 
        components;
            (6) improvement in the reliability and efficiency of 
        natural gas fueling station infrastructure;
            (7) the certification of natural gas fueling
        station infrastructure to nationally recognized and industry 
        safety standards;
            (8) the improvement in the reliability and
        efficiency of onboard natural gas fuel storage systems;
            (9) the development of new natural gas fuel
        storage materials;
            (10) the certification of onboard natural gas fuel storage 
        systems to nationally recognized and industry safety standards;
            (11) the use of natural gas engines in hybrid
        vehicles; and
            (12) researching and developing technologies and processes 
        so as to improve and streamline the process by which natural 
        gas conversion systems meet Federal and State requirements and 
        standards.
    (c) Cooperation and Coordination With
Industry.--In developing and carrying out the program under this 
section, the Secretary shall coordinate with the natural gas vehicle 
industry to ensure cooperation between
the public and the private sector.
    (d) Conduct of Program.--The program under this section shall be 
conducted in accordance with sections 3001 and 3002 of the Energy 
Policy Act of 1992.
    (e) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary shall provide a report to Congress on the 
implementation of this section.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary $30,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 
2010 through 2014 to carry out this section.
    (g) Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term ``natural 
gas'' means compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, biomethane, 
and mixtures of hydrogen and methane or natural gas.

            Passed the House of Representatives July 21, 2009.

            Attest:

                                            LORRAINE C. MILLER,

                                                                 Clerk.