[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 160 (Monday, October 22, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2198]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




INTRODUCTION OF THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE ADVANCED SAFETY TECHNOLOGY 
                                TAX ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON LEWIS

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 22, 2007

  Mr. LEWIS of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, I rise to inform my colleagues 
of legislation I have co-authored with my colleague Mike Thompson (D-
CA) to promote the installation of proven advanced safety technology on 
heavy-duty vehicles.
  The Commercial Motor Vehicle Advanced Safety Technology Tax Act (H.R. 
3820) will create a tax incentive for owners of heavy-duty vehicles and 
the manufacturers of public and school buses to purchase and install 
safety systems proven to reduce accident rates. These include:
  Brake Stroke Monitoring System--A system that monitors vehicle brakes 
to ensure they are functioning properly;
  Lane Departure Monitoring System--A system that warns the driver when 
the vehicle drifts into the wrong lane;
  Collision Warning System--A system that warns the driver if the 
vehicle is getting close enough to another vehicle or object to cause 
accident;
  Vehicle Stability System--A system that autocorrects the vehicle when 
there is a threat of the vehicle rolling over.
  These technologies directly address the most common causes of heavy-
duty vehicle accidents as identified in a March 2006 report by the 
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
  Specifically, large truck and bus owners who purchase one or more of 
these systems would be eligible for a tax credit of up to $3,500 
annually, with a maximum of $1,500 per system. Owners of vehicle fleets 
would be eligible for a maximum credit of $350,000 per year. 
Manufacturers who sell large trucks or buses to nonprofit entities, 
like schools or city transit authorities, would be eligible for the tax 
credit if they install the systems prior to vehicle delivery.
  The Commercial Motor Vehicle Advanced Safety Technology Tax Act will 
reduce cost barriers for these safety systems, improving road safety 
and improving overall road safety.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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