[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 133 (Wednesday, September 17, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1441]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      INTRODUCTION OF THE ELECTRIC CHARGING ADVANCEMENT REFORM ACT

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                            HON. JANICE HAHN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 17, 2014

  Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, my home of Los Angeles unfortunately is the 
nation's smoggiest region of the country. We are surrounded by 
mountains and have the highest per capita ownership of cars. The Los 
Angeles region has made great improvements in our air quality. In the 
last 15 years, the number of dirty air days has dropped by 38 percent. 
Still--we have the worst air quality in the nation. The American Lung 
Association ranks the Los Angeles region as number one in the nation 
for ozone pollution and in the top five for particulate matter 
pollution.
  This results in many health issues including higher numbers of 
children with asthma and significant lung function problems in normal, 
healthy people.
  We do love our cars in Los Angeles, and the pollution from these cars 
is a key cause of our air quality problems. Los Angeles could 
drastically improve its air quality if more of those cars were plug in 
vehicles. However there are simply not enough charging stations 
available for this to be feasible.
  As an owner of an all-electric Nissan Leaf, I know all too well that 
there is a lack of charging stations. I have personally experienced 
range anxiety. There have been times when driving home I have had to 
turn off the lights, radio, and air conditioning to ensure that I can 
make it home because there were no charging stations nearby. Los 
Angeles is one of the largest consumers of electric vehicles in the 
country. But, I believe people would buy more electric vehicles if 
charging stations were readily available.
  Today, I am introducing the Electric Charging Advancement Reform Act 
to encourage more electric vehicles on our roads, which will result in 
clean air improvements and energy independence. This is an act integral 
to revolutionizing the accessibility of plug-in electric vehicles 
(PEVs) to potential drivers. My bill would reauthorize the electric 
vehicle recharging property credit and make available to both consumers 
and businesses a tax credit of up to $100,000 for the installation of 
charging stations.
  No one driving a gas-powered car has to worry about finding a gas 
station before they get to their destination. Let us make sure that 
electric charging stations are just as easily accessible and convenient 
as the gas stations that are at every major intersection in our cities 
and off our major freeways.

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