[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 77 (Wednesday, May 21, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S3243]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       RELIABLE HOME HEATING ACT

  Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to Calendar 
No. 379.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 2086) to address current emergency shortages of 
     propane and other home heating fuels and to provide greater 
     flexibility and information for Governors to address such 
     emergencies in the future.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill, 
which had been reported from the Committee on Commerce, Science & 
Transportation, with an amendment to strike all after the enacting 
clause and insert in lieu thereof the following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Reliable Home Heating Act''.

     SEC. 2. AUTHORITY TO EXTEND EMERGENCY DECLARATIONS FOR 
                   PURPOSES OF TEMPORARILY EXEMPTING MOTOR 
                   CARRIERS PROVIDING EMERGENCY RELIEF FROM 
                   CERTAIN SAFETY REGULATIONS.

       (a) Defined Term.--In this Act, the term ``residential 
     heating fuel'' includes--
       (1) heating oil;
       (2) natural gas; and
       (3) propane.
       (b) Authorization.--If the Governor of a State declares a 
     state of emergency caused by a shortage of residential 
     heating fuel and, at the conclusion of the initial 30-day 
     emergency period (or a second 30-day emergency period 
     authorized under this subsection), the Governor determines 
     that the emergency shortage has not ended, any extension of 
     such state of emergency by the Governor, up to 2 additional 
     30-day periods, shall be recognized by the Federal Motor 
     Carrier Safety Administration as a period during which parts 
     390 through 399 of chapter III of title 49, Code of Federal 
     Regulations, shall not apply to any motor carrier or driver 
     operating a commercial motor vehicle to provide residential 
     heating fuel in the geographic area so designated as under a 
     state of emergency.
       (c) Rulemaking.--The Secretary of Transportation shall 
     amend section 390.23(a)(1)(ii) of title 49, Code of Federal 
     Regulations, to conform to the provision set forth in 
     subsection (b).
       (d) Savings Provision.--Nothing in this section may be 
     construed to modify the authority granted to the Federal 
     Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Field Administrator 
     under section 390.23(a) of title 49, Code of Federal 
     Regulations, to offer temporary exemptions from parts 390 
     through 399 of such title.

     SEC. 3. ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION NOTIFICATION 
                   REQUIREMENT.

       The Administrator of the Energy Information Administration, 
     using data compiled from the Administration's Weekly 
     Petroleum Status Reports, shall notify the Governor of each 
     State in a Petroleum Administration for Defense District if 
     the inventory of residential heating fuel within such 
     district has been below the most recent 5-year average for 
     more than 3 consecutive weeks.

     SEC. 4. REVIEW.

       Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of 
     this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall conduct a 
     study of, and transmit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
     and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
     Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
     Representatives, a report on the impacts of safety from the 
     extensions issued by Governors according to this Act. In 
     conducting the study, the Secretary shall review, at a 
     minimum--
       (1) the safety implications of extending exemptions; and
       (2) a review of the exemption process to ensure clarity and 
     efficiency during emergencies.

  Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported 
substitute amendment be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be read a 
third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and 
laid upon the table, and there be no intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The committee amendment in the nature of a substitute was agreed to.
  The bill, as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a third 
reading, was read the third time, and passed.

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