[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 49 (Wednesday, April 6, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2189-S2190]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. LEVIN (for himself, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Kerry, 
        Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Merkley, and Mrs. Stabenow):
  S. 739. 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; to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, today a bipartisan group of Senators has 
introduced legislation that would allow the Senate to continue its 
leadership of our country toward a clean-energy future. Senators 
Schumer, Alexander, Kerry, Murkowski, Bingaman, and I have introduced a 
bill that would 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.
  Among the most successful job-creation efforts we have undertaken 
since the financial crisis devastated our economy is our attempt to 
help American manufacturers create the batteries and other components 
that will power the next generation of electric-powered vehicles. In my 
State of Michigan and in other places around the country, the grant 
program we enacted as part of the Recovery Act has sparked a boom of 
manufacturing job creation. Given a choice between watching our global 
competitors create those jobs and creating them in the United States, 
we have chosen the wiser course.
  This has been part of a larger, and largely successful, effort to 
support the electric revolution in transportation. President Obama's 
goal of 1 million electric vehicles on the road by 2015 is one part of 
that effort. He announced last week that by 2015, the government will 
buy only alternative-energy vehicles for its fleets as part of a 
strategy to cut U.S. oil imports by 1/3. Such a strategy would help our 
country economically, protect our environment and enhance our national 
security.
  The legislation we introduce today is another, though smaller, part 
of that effort. It would ensure that the Senate leads by example as we 
transition to a clean-energy future. It would establish--at no net cost 
to the taxpayer--charging stations to power plug-in hybrid electric 
vehicles. While these vehicles are an important part of our future, 
they will bring changes in how we think about cars and driving. Instead 
of looking for gas stations, drivers will need charging stations where 
they can replenish the batteries that power their vehicles.
  The President and others have proposed plans to help encourage the 
creation of that infrastructure in communities around the country. So 
should the Senate. This bill would ensure that Senate employees have 
available the infrastructure to support next-generation vehicles. It 
would be an important statement of leadership from the Senate. It would 
provide an example to other employers of how they can support both the 
needs of their employees and our national interest in energy security.
  I am thankful for the support of Senators Schumer, Alexander, Kerry, 
Murkowski, and Bingaman on this bill, and for the assistance of the 
staffs of Senators Schumer and Alexander on the Rules Committee. These 
Senators have recognized the value of Senate leadership in moving our 
nation toward a future liberated from imported oil, and I hope our 
other colleagues will as well.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 739

       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 
                   JURISDICTION OF THE SENATE AT NO NET COST TO 
                   THE FEDERAL 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 
     appropriated to the Architect of the Capitol under the 
     heading ``Capitol 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 stations in parking areas under the 
     jurisdiction

[[Page S2190]]

     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 Capitol 
     may construct or direct the construction of battery 
     recharging 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 
     provided 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) Approval of fees or charges.--The Architect of the 
     Capitol may establish and adjust fees or charges under 
     paragraph (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 
     Commissions.--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 
     appropriations 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) Annual Reports.--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.
       (f) Effective Date.--This Act shall apply with respect to 
     fiscal year 2011 and each fiscal year thereafter.
                                 ______