[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 117 (Thursday, August 2, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H5650]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     AUTHORIZING THE ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL TO ESTABLISH BATTERY 
            RECHARGING STATIONS UNDER JURISDICTION OF HOUSE

  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous 
consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 1402) to 
authorize the Architect of the Capitol to establish battery recharging 
stations for privately owned vehicles in parking areas under the 
jurisdiction of the House of Representatives at no net cost to the 
Federal Government, and ask for its immediate consideration in the 
House.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1402

       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 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 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 Chief 
     Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives; or
       (2) any other individual who is authorized to park in any 
     parking area under the jurisdiction of the House of 
     Representatives 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 of the House of Representatives on Capitol 
     Grounds for use by privately owned vehicles used by Members 
     of the House of Representatives (including the Delegates or 
     Resident Commissioner to the Congress) 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 House Administration of the House of Representatives; 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 Members 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 House Administration of the House of 
     Representatives; 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 House Administration of 
     the House of Representatives.
       (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 House Administration of the House of 
     Representatives.
       (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 House Administration of the House of 
     Representatives determining whether Members (including any 
     Delegate or Resident Commissioner to Congress) 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 House Administration of the House of 
     Representatives 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.


        Amendment Offered by Mr. Daniel E. Lungren of California

  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I have an amendment 
to the bill at the desk.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Amend section 1(e) to read as follows:
       (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 House Administration of the House of 
     Representatives.
       (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 House Administration of the House of 
     Representatives determining whether Members (including any 
     Delegate or Resident Commissioner to Congress) 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 House Administration of the House of 
     Representatives 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.

  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California (during the reading). Mr. 
Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be 
dispensed with.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  The amendment was agreed to.
  The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, was read 
the third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the 
table.

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