[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 76 (Thursday, May 24, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3657-S3658]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
AUTHORIZING THE ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL TO ESTABLISH BATTERY
RECHARGING STATIONS
Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 44, S. 739.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (S. 739) 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.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to the bill.
Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I am very pleased that the Senate today is
passing legislation that would allow the Senate to continue its
leadership of our country toward a clean-energy future. This bill
provides the authority for the Architect of the Capitol to provide for
charging of batteries for privately owned vehicles in parking areas
under the jurisdiction of the Senate and, of great importance, at no
cost to the Federal Government.
Plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles offer great potential in meeting
our goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and auto manufacturers
are moving toward developing a broad choice of electric-drive vehicles.
Batteries and components are now being manufactured in the U.S., and we
are developing the supply chain necessary to support these home-grown
technologies. But in addition to making the vehicles and components
available, we also need to take steps to ensure the infrastructure
exists to make these vehicles desirable and accessible to consumers.
Increased use of plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles will bring
changes in how we think about cars and driving. Instead of looking for
gas stations, drivers will need to have places where they can replenish
the batteries that power their vehicles.
This bill will ensure that the Senate leads by example as we
transition to that cleaner-energy future. It will ensure that the
capability to charge plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles will exist in
the Senate--at no cost to the taxpayer. I am a proud owner of a
Chevrolet Volt, but I also want to ensure that the taxpayers do not
subsidize the cost of my or anyone else's use of electricity to power
these vehicles.
I appreciate the efforts and support of the cosponsors of this bill--
Senators Alexander, Schumer, Kerry, Murkowski, Bingaman, Stabenow, and
Merkley--and the great assistance of the staffs of Senators Schumer and
Alexander on the Rules Committee in getting this bill passed. It has
been our explicit intention to ensure there would be no cost to the
taxpayer in providing access to electricity for those wishing to charge
their vehicle batteries in the parking areas of the Senate, but I am
pleased that we were able to include language to clarify any questions
in that regard.
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I rise today to discuss S. 739, a bill
which authorizes the Architect of the Capitol, AOC, at no cost to the
Federal government, to create and install electric vehicle recharging
stations in Senate parking facilities.
This bill likely would have never seen the light of day it were it
not for the perseverance and hard work of my good friend Senator Levin.
He worked tirelessly to make this bill a reality, and I am so proud to
stand with him. This bill was drafted with bipartisan support. Senator
Alexander and I join Senators Kerry, Murkowski, Bingaman, Merkley and
Stabenow in supporting this bill sponsored by Senator Levin.
It bears repeating: This bill creates a program that will not cost
the Federal government one dime. S. 739 funds the installation and
maintenance of the charging stations by billing the individuals who use
the plug-in stations. S. 739 works on a simple premise: the more people
who drive electric cars on campus, the more plug-in stations the AOC
will install. S. 739 insures that the demand for plug-in stations will
match the number of dues paying participants who fund the program.
This bill is needed as more and more people decide to buy electric
cars. Currently, the Architect does not have the authority to install
plug-in stations on the Capitol campus. This bill fixes that problem in
a smart, cost effective manner.
Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a Levin
amendment be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be read a third time and
passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no
intervening action or debate, and any statements related to the bill be
printed in the Record.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment (No. 2155) was agreed to, as follows:
(Purpose: To improve oversight over the program and ensure no subsidy
is received by Senators and employees)
On page 4, strike lines 14 through 19, and insert the
following:
(e) Reports.--
(1) In general.--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.
(2) Avoiding subsidy.--
(A) Determination.--Not later than 3 years after the date
of enactment of this Act and every 3 years thereafter, the
Architect of the Capitol shall submit a report to the
Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate
determining whether Senators and covered employees using
battery charging stations as authorized by this Act are
receiving a subsidy from the taxpayers.
(B) Modification of rates and fees.--If a determination is
made under subparagraph (A) that a subsidy is being received,
the Architect of the Capitol shall submit a plan to the
Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate on how to
update the program to ensure no subsidy is being received. If
the committee does not act on the plan within 60 days, the
Architect of the Capitol shall take appropriate steps to
increase rates or fees to ensure reimbursement for the cost
of the program consistent with an appropriate schedule for
amortization, to be charged to those using the charging
stations.
The bill (S. 739), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a
third reading, was read the third time, and passed, 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.
[[Page S3658]]
(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 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) Reports.--
(1) In general.--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.
(2) Avoiding subsidy.--
(A) Determination.--Not later than 3 years after the date
of enactment of this Act and every 3 years thereafter, the
Architect of the Capitol shall submit a report to the
Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate
determining whether Senators and covered employees using
battery charging stations as authorized by this Act are
receiving a subsidy from the taxpayers.
(B) Modification of rates and fees.--If a determination is
made under subparagraph (A) that a subsidy is being received,
the Architect of the Capital shall submit a plan to the
Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate on how to
update the program to ensure no subsidy is being received. If
the committee does not act on the plan within 60 days, the
Architect of the Capitol shall take appropriate steps to
increase rates or fees to ensure reimbursement for the cost
of the program consistent with an appropriate schedule for
amortization, to be charged to those using the charging
stations.
(f) Effective Date.--This Act shall apply with respect to
fiscal year 2011 and each fiscal year thereafter.
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