117 HR 1594 IH: USA Batteries Act U.S. House of Representatives 2023-03-14 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I118th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 1594IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESMarch 14, 2023Mr. Meuser (for himself and Mr. Moolenaar) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and MeansA BILLTo amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to eliminate lead oxide, antimony, and sulfuric acid as taxable chemicals under the Superfund excise taxes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the USA Batteries Act.

2.

Findings

Congress finds the following:(1)The Superfund fee established in Public Law 117–58 makes American manufacturing less competitive by imposing a tax on chemicals used in domestic battery production that is not levied on imported batteries. (2)America’s lead battery industry has a manufacturing capacity of more than 165 GWh, a $23.6 billion domestic economic impact annually, and creates more than 25,000 direct jobs in 38 States.(3)Lead batteries have a 99 percent recycling rate and are a truly sustainable energy storage technology. (4)Lead batteries are critical for many sectors, including defense, transportation, logistics, telecommunications, and energy generation.(5)Increased taxes on domestic production create a disadvantage for American manufacturers and reduce the global competitiveness of the domestic lead battery industry by increasing the costs of key raw materials.

3.

Elimination of lead oxide, antimony, and sulfuric acid as taxable chemicals under Superfund excise taxes

The table in section 4661(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended by Public Law 117–58, is amended by striking the rows relating to lead oxide, antimony, and sulfuric acid.