[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 106 (Thursday, July 9, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4956-S4962]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
By Mr. REED (for himself, Mr. Grassley, and Mr. Leahy):
S. 1730. A bill to enhance civil penalties under the Federal
securities laws, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Banking,
Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Mr. REED. Mr. President, the Stronger Enforcement of Civil Penalties
Act, which I am pleased to be introducing today with Senator Grassley
and Senator Leahy, will enhance the ability of securities regulators to
protect investors and demand greater accountability from market
players. Unfortunately, even after the financial crisis that crippled
the economy, we continue to see calculated wrongdoing by some on Wall
Street. Without the consequence of meaningful penalties to serve as an
effective deterrent, I fear this disturbing culture of misconduct will
persist.
The existing regime for securities law violations limits by statute
the amount of penalties the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC,
can fine an institution or individual. During hearings I held in 2011
in the Securities, Insurance, and Investment Banking Subcommittee, I
learned how this limitation significantly interferes with the SEC's
ability to perform its enforcement duties. At that time, the agency had
been criticized by a Federal judge for not obtaining a larger
settlement against Citigroup, a major player in the financial crisis
that settled with the SEC in an amount that was a fraction of the cost
the bank had inflicted on investors. The SEC explained that the reason
for the low settlement amount was a statutory prohibition from levying
a larger penalty.
The bipartisan bill Senator Grassley and I are introducing updates
and strengthens the SEC's civil penalties statute. It aims to make
potential and current offenders think twice before engaging in
misconduct by increasing the maximum civil monetary penalties permitted
by statute, directly linking the size of the maximum penalties to the
amount of losses suffered by victims of a violation, and substantially
raising the financial stakes for repeat offenders of our nation's
securities laws.
Specifically, our bill would give the SEC more options to tailor
penalties to the specific circumstances of a given violation. In
addition to raising the per violation caps for severe, or ``tier
three,'' violations to $1 million per offense for individuals and $10
million per offense for entities, the bill would also give the SEC
additional options to obtain greater penalties based on the ill-gotten
gains of the violator or on the financial harm to investors.
Our bill also addresses the disconcerting trend of repeat offenders
on Wall Street through two provisions. The first would allow the SEC to
triple the penalty cap applicable to recidivists who have been held
either criminally or civilly liable for securities fraud within the
preceding five years. The second would allow the SEC to seek a civil
penalty against those that violate existing federal court or SEC
orders, an approach that would be more efficient, effective, and
flexible than the current civil contempt remedy. These two changes
would substantially improve the ability of the SEC's enforcement
program to ratchet up penalties for recidivists.
More than half of all U.S. households own securities. They deserve a
strong cop on the beat that has the tools it needs to go after
fraudsters and pursue the difficult cases arising from our increasingly
complex financial markets. The Stronger Enforcement of Civil Penalties
Act will give the SEC more tools to demand meaningful accountability
from Wall Street, which in turn will increase transparency and
confidence in our financial system. I urge our colleagues to support
this important bipartisan legislation to enhance the SEC's ability to
protect investors and crack down on fraud.
______
By Mrs. MURRAY (for herself and Ms. Hirono):
S. 1731. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to waive the
minimum period of continuous active duty in the Armed Forces for
receipt of certain benefits for homeless veterans, to authorize the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish such benefits to homeless
veterans with discharges or releases from service in the Armed Forces
with other than dishonorable conditions, and for other purposes; to the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, today I am introducing the Homeless
Veterans Services Protection Act of 2015.
This legislation would ensure continued access to homeless services
for some of our country's most vulnerable veterans who are currently at
risk of losing these critical services.
The administration set the difficult but commendable goal of
eliminating veteran homelessness. Through tremendous efforts at every
level of government, and with the help of community groups, non-profits
and the private sector, we have made major progress toward achieving
that goal.
But we know we have a lot of work to do. Veterans are at greater risk
of becoming homeless than non-veterans and on any given night as many
as 50,000 veterans are homeless across the United States.
This is unacceptable.
Our veterans made great sacrifices while serving our country and our
commitment to them is especially important. This commitment includes
providing benefits, medical care, support, and assistance to prevent
homelessness.
Two of our greatest tools are the Department of Veterans Affairs'
Grant and Per Diem program and the Supportive Services for Veteran
Families program through partnerships with homeless service providers
around the country.
These important and successful programs assist very low-income
veterans and their families who either live in permanent housing or are
transitioning from homelessness. The programs help our veterans with
rent, utilities, moving costs, outreach, case management, and obtaining
benefits.
But last year, after a legal review of its policies, VA was forced to
prepare for a change that would have cut off services to veterans who
did not meet certain length of service or discharge requirements,
changing policies that homeless service providers had followed for
decades.
That would be a heartless, bureaucratic move that could have put
thousands of veterans on the streets--practically overnight. According
to some of our leading veterans and homeless groups--including The
American Legion, the National Alliance to End Homelessness the National
Low Income Housing Coalition, and the National Coalition for Homeless
Veterans--had the policy been enacted, VA would have had to stop
serving about 15 percent of the homeless veteran population, and in
certain urban areas up to 30 percent of homeless veterans would have
been turned away.
The veterans community alerted me to this possible change--and while
I am proud that we prevented these changes in the short-term--it is
very concerning that a legal opinion could be issued at any time to
undo all of that.
There is good reason to reverse this policy for good. A report from
VA's Inspector General, issued just last week, shows how VA's unclear
or outdated guidance hurts veterans, and how VA's proposed policy
changes work against efforts to help homeless veterans.
As a senior member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee and the
daughter of a World War II veteran, I'm proud that the bill I have
introduced today would permanently protect homeless veterans' access to
housing and services.
This bill makes it clear that our country takes care of those who
have served, and we don't allow bureaucracy to dictate who gets a roof
over their head and who doesn't.
Many veterans struggle with mental illness, substance abuse, or
simply finding a steady job--all factors that can lead to homelessness.
And veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are increasingly
becoming homeless--numbers that will continue to increase in the coming
years unless help is available for them.
The idea that any of these veterans returning from service could
become homeless because of these policies is unacceptable.
If we ever hope to end veteran homelessness we must do everything we
can to reach this goal, and I want to make
[[Page S4957]]
sure that VA's policies are moving us in that direction.
I don't just believe that the United States can do better; I believe
we must do better for those who've sacrificed so much for our country.
Finally I would like to thank Senator Hirono for cosponsoring this
bill and being a champion of the men and women who have served our
country.
______
By Mr. WYDEN (for himself, Mr. Schumer, Ms. Stabenow, Ms.
Cantwell, Mr. Nelson, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Carper, Mr. Cardin, Mr.
Brown, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Casey, Mr. Warner, Mr. Reid, Ms. Hirono,
Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Whitehouse, Mrs. McCaskill, Mr. Markey,
Mr. Sanders, Ms. Warren, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr.
Leahy, Mr. Franken, Mr. Merkley, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Durbin, Mrs.
Shaheen, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. Schatz, Ms. Baldwin,
Mrs. Murray, Mr. Coons, Ms. Mikulski, Ms. Heitkamp, Mr. Tester,
Mr. Booker, Mr. Reed, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Peters, Mr. Donnelly, Mrs.
Feinstein, Mr. Udall, Mr. King, and Mr. Manchin):
S. 1740. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to clarify
that all provisions shall apply to legally married same-sex couples in
the same manner as other married couples, and for other purposes; to
the Committee on Finance.
Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, 2 weeks ago, the Supreme Court handed down
a wonderful decision recognizing that all Americans have the right to
marry the man or woman they love. It was a triumphant movement in the
march toward justice, one I was happy to celebrate at home with a group
of Oregonians who were truly elated. In my remarks that morning, I
said: Love won and there is more to be done.
So, today, along with 36 colleagues, I am introducing the Equal
Dignity for Married Taxpayers Act of 2015. What this legislation does
is it removes each gender-specific reference to marriage from the Tax
Code. Now, in his opinion for the Court, Justice Kennedy pointed out
the importance of providing equal dignity in the eyes of the law.
Our legislation enshrines that equal dignity and respect in our
Nation's tax laws by recognizing a new dawn of liberty for all
Americans. In my view, on a more symbolic level, this legislation is
one way to help close the door on an era when too many of our laws
denied equality to the LGBTQ community. In my view, this is a
particularly important step in the march toward justice. It is a
straightforward way to cement the recognition that all Americans share
certain unalienable rights--among them, life, liberty, and the pursuit
of happiness.
I was proud to vote against the Defense of Marriage Act in the
Congress 20 years ago and fight measure 36 a decade ago in Oregon. I
have always said--always said--that if you don't like gay marriage,
don't get one. This is fundamentally an issue of justice and of
liberty. I hope all Americans take pride in the wave of acceptance and
equality that has rolled across our land and this decision embodies.
This legislation now has 36 cosponsors. My hope is this body will
support this proposal on a bipartisan basis. I look forward to working
with our colleagues to take this next step. It is a step toward the arc
of justice--the arc of justice that says that all of us--all of us--
have to be free. All of us should enjoy true and full equality for all
Americans. I am very pleased 36 colleagues are joining me in this
proposal this morning. I hope the Senate will pass it expeditiously on
a bipartisan basis.
______
By Mr. NELSON (for himself, Mr. Blumenthal, and Mr. Markey):
S. 1743. A bill to provide greater transparency, accountability, and
safety authority to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,
and for other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation.
Mr. NELSON. Mr. President, today, I am introducing the Motor Vehicle
Safety Act of 2015. I introduce this bill with Senator Blumenthal, the
Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product
Safety, Insurance, and Data Security, as well as Senator Markey, a
valued Member of the Commerce Committee.
Takata airbags. GM ignition switches. Toyota unintended acceleration.
By now, we all know the tragic stories: automakers and suppliers hiding
dangerous defects for years right under the nose of a weak, under-
resourced regulator. The result? Scores of deaths, hundreds of
injuries, and millions of vehicles still under recall that are
endangering lives both inside and outside the cars.
Every year, over 32,000 people die on our roadways--32,000 lives cut
short, 32,000 families without a loved one. Car accidents are by far
the top cause of accidental deaths. But it doesn't have to be this way.
Congress can adopt practical solutions to help make cars safer and
improve the recall process and, in turn, save lives. That is exactly
what this legislation is designed to do--to take the lessons we have
learned from exploding Takata airbags, defective GM ignition switches,
and several other recent serious recalls to ensure that a company can
never again hide a lethal defects from the public, to improve the way
we recall dangerous cars, and to harness American innovation and
ingenuity to make vehicles safer.
Many of the concepts in today's bill are not new. Indeed, many of the
provisions in the bill have passed the Senate before with bipartisan
support. The Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 2015 that Senators Blumenthal,
Markey, and I introduce today includes provisions from bills introduced
by myself, Senators Blumenthal, Markey, Gillibrand, Schatz, Booker, and
former Chairman Rockefeller. Like the earlier bills, this legislation
is predicated on improving four things: transparency, wrongdoer
accountability, vehicle safety, and recall effectiveness.
First, government transparency. The Department of Transportation
Inspector General identified several problems with how NHTSA processes
early warning data. This bill seeks to help remedy those problems and
increase the transparency of the information the agency receives. For
example, the bill would require NHTSA to upgrade its online databases
to improve searchability and to consider early warning data when
investigating potential safety defects. The bill would also require
NHTSA to disclose information submitted by manufacturers to NHTSA
through the Early Warning Reporting system unless the information is
exempt under FOIA. Finally, motor vehicle and equipment manufacturers
would have to automatically submit documentation that first alerted
them to a fatality involving their vehicle or equipment to NHTSA's
Early Warning Reporting database.
Second, wrongdoer accountability. The bill would remove the cap on
NHTSA's civil penalty authority, which is currently at $35 million
NHTSA's civil penalty authority must be bolstered to deter highly
profitable corporations from violating safety laws. Otherwise, we get
what we have now: companies treating NHTSA's civil penalties as a mere
cost of doing business. Just look at the GM case, where the maximum $35
million civil penalty represented less than 1/1000 of GM's quarterly
revenues, which is over $35 billion. In addition, the bill would impose
criminal penalties on corporate executives who knowingly conceal the
fact that their product poses a danger of death or serious injury.
Corporate executives who hide serious dangers from the public shouldn't
get off the hook.
Third, vehicle safety. The bill would authorize NHTSA to conduct new
research and implement life-saving standards to make vehicles safer.
For example, it would require large commercial trucks to have crash
avoidance technologies, and it would improve car hoods and bumpers to
reduce pedestrian fatalities and injuries. The legislation also would
task NHTSA with evaluating whether technology exists to help prevent
children from being left in hot cars. These changes just make sense,
and they would save lives.
Lastly, recall effectiveness. The major lesson from the Takata, GM,
and other defect debacles is that we need to improve the recall process
so that unsafe vehicles get fixed as quickly as possible. This bill
would do just that by improving NHTSA's recall authority, asking
dealers to adopt commonsense practices, and exploring new ways to
[[Page S4958]]
notify consumers of recalls. First, the Motor Vehicle Safety Act of
2015 would give NHTSA the authority to expedite recalls in the case of
substantial likelihood of death or serious injury. Second, the
legislation would ensure that used car dealers fix cars under recall
before selling them. The fact that used car dealers can still sell
vehicles under recall without bothering to fix them is appalling--
several individuals who died from exploding Takata airbags had
purchased used cars that hadn't been fixed. My legislation would also
require authorized dealers to check for open recalls when a car is
brought in for any service--something that should already be very quick
and doable for dealers. Third, the bill would create grant programs to
allow states to participate in the recall notification process by
notifying drivers of open recalls when the DMV sends registration
renewals. Finally, NHTSA would have promulgate a rule requiring new
vehicles have a warning feature--similar to tire pressure monitor or
oil change light on the dashboard--that would notify consumers that
their cars are subject to a safety recall. With innovations like backup
cameras and connected cars, we've seen how technology improves safety.
I am very excited about the possibility that technology can also ensure
that a driver knows his or her car is under recall and, as a result,
prevent injuries and deaths from safety defects.
The American public demands that we do something meaningful to keep
them safe on the road. There will be more recalls in the future--it is
inevitable. And the consequences can be deadly. But they don't have to
be. Improving the recall process can and will save lives. I realize our
bill may not get us to l00 percent completion of recalls or perfect
motor vehicle safety, but I am confident that it would go a long way
towards improving recall effectiveness, adding practical safety
technologies to vehicles, and making Americans safer on our nation's
roads and highways.
I want to thank my colleagues, Senators Blumenthal and Markey, for
helping me on this extremely important bill and for their dedication to
making our roads safer.
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. 1743
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS; REFERENCES.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Motor
Vehicle Safety Act of 2015''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act
is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents; references.
Sec. 2. Definition of Secretary.
TITLE I--TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Sec. 101. Public availability of early warning data.
Sec. 102. Additional early warning reporting requirements.
Sec. 103. Improved National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
vehicle safety databases.
Sec. 104. Corporate responsibility for NHTSA reports.
Sec. 105. Reports to Congress.
TITLE II--ENHANCED SAFETY AUTHORITY AND CONSUMER PROTECTION
Sec. 201. Civil penalties.
Sec. 202. Criminal penalties.
Sec. 203. Cooperation with foreign governments.
Sec. 204. Imminent hazard authority.
Sec. 205. Used passenger motor vehicle consumer protection.
Sec. 206. Unattended children warning system.
Sec. 207. Collision avoidance technologies.
Sec. 208. Motor vehicle pedestrian protection.
TITLE III--FUNDING
Sec. 301. Authorization of appropriations.
TITLE IV--RECALL PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS
Sec. 401. Recall obligations under bankruptcy.
Sec. 402. Dealer requirement to check for and remedy recall.
Sec. 403. Application of remedies for defects and noncompliance.
Sec. 404. Direct vehicle notification of recalls.
Sec. 405. State notification of open safety recalls.
Sec. 406. Recall completion pilot grant program.
Sec. 407. Improvements to notification of defect or noncompliance.
(c) References to Title 49, United States Code.--Except as
otherwise expressly provided, wherever in this Act an
amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to,
or repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference
shall be considered to be made to a section or other
provision of title 49, United States Code.
SEC. 2. DEFINITION OF SECRETARY.
In this Act, unless expressly provided otherwise, the term
``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Transportation.
TITLE I--TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
SEC. 101. PUBLIC AVAILABILITY OF EARLY WARNING DATA.
(a) Regulations.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall promulgate
regulations establishing categories of information provided
to the Secretary under section 30166(m) of title 49, United
States Code, as amended by section 102 of this Act, that must
be made available to the public. The Secretary may establish
categories of information that are exempt from public
disclosure under section 552(b) of title 5, United States
Code.
(b) Consultation.--In conducting the rulemaking under
subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with the Director
of the Office of Government Information Services within the
National Archives and Records Administration and the Director
of the Office of Information Policy of the Department of
Justice.
(c) Presumption and Limitation.--The Secretary shall
promulgate the regulations with a presumption in favor of
maximum public availability of information. In promulgating
regulations under subsection (a), the following types of
information shall presumptively not be eligible for
protection under section 552(b) of title 5, United States
Code:
(1) Vehicle safety defect information related to incidents
involving death or injury.
(2) Aggregated numbers of property damage claims.
(3) Aggregated numbers of consumer complaints related to
potential vehicle defects.
(d) Nullification of Prior Regulations.--Beginning 2 years
after the date of enactment of this Act, the regulations
establishing early warning reporting class determinations in
Appendix C of part 512 of title 49, Code of Federal
Regulations, shall have no force or effect.
SEC. 102. ADDITIONAL EARLY WARNING REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
Section 30166(m) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (3)(C)--
(A) by striking ``The manufacturer'' and inserting the
following:
``(i) In general.--The manufacturer''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(ii) Fatal incidents.--If an incident described in clause
(i) involves a fatality, the Secretary shall require the
manufacturer to submit, as part of its incident report--
``(I) all initial claim or notice documents, as defined by
the Secretary through regulation, except media reports, that
notified the manufacturer of the incident;
``(II) any police reports or other documents, as defined by
the Secretary through regulation, that relate to the initial
claim or notice (except for documents that are protected by
the attorney-client privilege or work product privileges that
are not already publicly available), that describe or
reconstruct the incident, and that are in the actual
possession or control of the manufacturer at the time the
incident report is submitted;
``(III) any amendments or supplements, as defined by the
Secretary through regulation, to the initial claim or notice
documents described in subclause (I), except for--
``(aa) medical documents and bills;
``(bb) property damage invoices or estimates; and
``(cc) documents related to damages; and
``(IV) any police reports or other documents described in
subclause (II) that are obtained by the manufacturer after
the submission of its incident report.'';
(2) in paragraph (4), by amending subparagraph (C) to read
as follows:
``(C) Disclosure.--
``(i) In general.--The information provided to the
Secretary under this subsection shall--
``(I) be disclosed publicly; and
``(II) be entered into the early warning reporting database
in a manner specified by the Secretary through regulation
that is searchable by manufacturer name, vehicle or equipment
make and model name, model year, and reported system or
component.
``(ii) Information disclosure requirements.--In
administering this subparagraph, the Secretary shall--
``(I) presume in favor of maximum public availability of
information;
``(II) require the publication of information on incidents
involving death or injury; and
``(III) require the publication of numbers of property
damage claims.''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(6) Section 552 of title 5.--Any requirement for the
Secretary to publicly disclose information under this
subsection shall be construed consistently with the
requirements of section 552 of title 5.
``(7) Use of early warning reports.--The Secretary shall
consider information gathered under this subsection in
proceedings described in sections 30118 and 30162.''.
[[Page S4959]]
SEC. 103. IMPROVED NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY
ADMINISTRATION VEHICLE SAFETY DATABASES.
(a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, and after public consultation, the
Secretary shall improve public accessibility to information
on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's
publicly accessible vehicle safety databases--
(1) by improving organization and functionality, including
design features such as drop-down menus, and allowing for
data from all of the publicly accessible vehicle safety
databases to be searched, sorted, aggregated, and downloaded
in a manner--
(A) consistent with the public interest; and
(B) that facilitates easy use by consumers;
(2) by providing greater consistency in presentation of
vehicle safety issues;
(3) by improving searchability about specific vehicles and
issues through standardization of commonly used search terms
and the integration of databases to enable all to be
simultaneously searched using the same keyword search
function; and
(4) by ensuring that all studies, investigation reports,
inspection reports, incident reports, and other categories of
materials, as specified through the rulemaking under section
101(a), be made publicly available in a manner that is
searchable in databases by--
(A) manufacturer name, vehicle or equipment make and model
name, and model year;
(B) reported system or component;
(C) number of injuries or fatalities; and
(D) any other element that the Secretary determines to be
in the public interest.
(b) Investigation Information.--The Secretary shall--
(1) provide public notice of information requests to
manufacturers issued under section 30166 of title 49, United
States Code; and
(2) make such information requests, the manufacturer's
written responses to the information requests, and notice of
any enforcement or other action taken as a result of the
information requests--
(A) available to consumers on the Internet not later than 5
days after such notice is issued; and
(B) searchable by manufacturer name, vehicle or equipment
make and model name, model year, system or component, and the
type of inspection or investigation being conducted.
(c) Section 552 of Title 5.--Any requirement for the
Secretary to publicly disclose information under this section
shall be construed consistently with the requirements of
section 552 of title 5, United States Code.
SEC. 104. CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR NHTSA REPORTS.
Section 30166(o) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``may'' and inserting
``shall''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Deadline.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 2015, the
Secretary shall issue a final rule under paragraph (1).''.
SEC. 105. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.
(a) Ability to Identify and Investigate Vehicle Safety
Concerns.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, and biennially thereafter for 6 years,
the Inspector General of the Department of Transportation
shall update the Inspector General's report dated June 18,
2015 (ST-2015-063) on the pre-investigation processes used by
the Office of Defects Investigation of the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (referred to in this section as
``NHTSA'') to collect and analyze vehicle safety data and to
determine potential safety issues and whether those processes
were sufficiently improved, including an assessment of--
(A) the sufficiency of NHTSA's procedures and practices for
collecting, verifying the accuracy and completeness of,
analyzing, and determining whether to further investigate
potential safety issues described in consumer complaints and
manufacturer submittals to the early warning report system;
(B) the number and type of requests for information made by
NHTSA based on data received in the early warning reporting
system and consumer complaints received;
(C) the number of safety defect investigations opened by
NHTSA based on information reported to NHTSA through the
early warning reporting system, consumer complaints, or other
sources;
(D) the nature and vehicle defect category of each safety
defect investigation described in subparagraph (C);
(E) the duration of each safety defect investigation
described in subparagraph (C), including--
(i) the number of safety defect investigations described in
subparagraph (C) that are subsequently closed without further
action; and
(ii) the number and description of safety defect
investigations described in subparagraph (C) that have been
open for more than 1 year;
(F) the percentage of the safety defect investigations
described in subparagraph (C) that result in a finding of a
safety defect, recall, or service information campaign;
(G) the status and sufficiency of NHTSA's compliance with
each recommendation designed to improve vehicle safety made
by the Inspector General; and
(H) other information the Inspector General considers
appropriate.
(2) Report.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the date that
a report under paragraph (1) is complete, the Inspector
General shall transmit the report to--
(i) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
of the Senate; and
(ii) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of
Representatives.
(B) Public.--The Inspector General shall make the report
public as soon as practicable, but not later than 30 days
after the date the report is transmitted under subparagraph
(A).
(b) Report on Operations of the Council for Vehicle
Electronics, Vehicle Software, and Emerging Technologies.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 6 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prepare a report
regarding the operations of the Council for Vehicle
Electronics, Vehicle Software, and Emerging Technologies
established under section 31401 of the Moving Ahead for
Progress in the 21st Century Act (49 U.S.C. 105 note). The
report shall include information about the accomplishments of
the Council, the role of the Council in integrating and
aggregating expertise across NHTSA, and the priorities of the
Council over the next 5 years.
(2) Submission of report.--The Secretary shall submit the
report upon completion to the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Energy
and Commerce of the House of Representatives.
TITLE II--ENHANCED SAFETY AUTHORITY AND CONSUMER PROTECTION
SEC. 201. CIVIL PENALTIES.
(a) In General.--Section 30165(a) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) in the first sentence--
(i) by inserting ``or causes the violation of'' after
``violates''; and
(ii) by striking ``$5,000'' and inserting ``$25,000''; and
(B) by striking the third sentence;
(2) in paragraph (2)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``$10,000'' and
inserting ``$100,000''; and
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the second sentence;
and
(3) in paragraph (3)--
(A) in the first sentence, by inserting ``or causes the
violation of'' after ``violates'';
(B) in the second sentence, by striking ``$5,000'' and
inserting ``$25,000''; and
(C) by striking the third sentence.
(b) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be
construed as preventing the imposition of penalties under
section 30165 of title 49, United States Code, prior to the
issuance of a final rule under section 31203(b) of the Moving
Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (49 U.S.C. 30165
note).
SEC. 202. CRIMINAL PENALTIES.
(a) Reporting Standards.--
(1) In general.--Part I of title 18, United States Code, is
amended by inserting after chapter 101 the following:
``CHAPTER 101A--REPORTING STANDARDS
``Sec.
``2081. Definitions.
``2082. Failure to inform and warn.
``2083. Relationship to existing law.
``Sec. 2081. Definitions
``In this chapter--
``(1) the term `appropriate Federal agency' means an agency
with jurisdiction over a covered product, covered service, or
business practice;
``(2) the term `business entity' means a corporation,
company, association, firm, partnership, sole proprietor, or
other business entity;
``(3) the term `business practice' means a method or
practice of--
``(A) manufacturing, assembling, designing, researching,
importing, or distributing a covered product;
``(B) conducting, providing, or preparing to provide a
covered service; or
``(C) otherwise carrying out business operations relating
to covered products or covered services;
``(4) the term `covered product' means a product
manufactured, assembled, designed, researched, imported, or
distributed by a business entity that enters interstate
commerce;
``(5) the term `covered service' means a service conducted
or provided by a business entity that enters interstate
commerce;
``(6) the term `responsible corporate officer' means a
person who--
``(A) is an employer, director, or officer of a business
entity;
``(B) has the responsibility and authority, by reason of
his or her position in the business entity and in accordance
with the rules or practice of the business entity, to acquire
knowledge of any serious danger associated with a covered
product (or component of a covered product), covered service,
or business practice of the business entity; and
``(C) has the responsibility, by reason of his or her
position in the business entity, to communicate information
about the serious danger to--
``(i) an appropriate Federal agency;
``(ii) employees of the business entity; or
``(iii) individuals, other than employees of the business
entity, who may be exposed to the serious danger;
``(7) the term `serious bodily injury' means an impairment
of the physical condition of an individual, including as a
result of trauma, repetitive motion, or disease, that--
``(A) creates a substantial risk of death; or
``(B) causes--
``(i) serious permanent disfigurement;
``(ii) unconsciousness;
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``(iii) extreme pain; or
``(iv) permanent or protracted loss or impairment of the
function of any bodily member, organ, bodily system, or
mental faculty;
``(8) the term `serious danger' means a danger, not readily
apparent to a reasonable person, that the normal or
reasonably foreseeable use of, or the exposure of an
individual to, a covered product, covered service, or
business practice has an imminent risk of causing death or
serious bodily injury to an individual; and
``(9) the term `warn affected employees' means take
reasonable steps to give, to each individual who is exposed
or may be exposed to a serious danger in the course of work
for a business entity, a description of the serious danger
that is sufficient to make the individual aware of the
serious danger.
``Sec. 2082. Failure to inform and warn
``(a) Requirement.--After acquiring actual knowledge of a
serious danger associated with a covered product (or
component of a covered product), covered service, or business
practice of a business entity, a business entity and any
responsible corporate officer with respect to the covered
product, covered service, or business practice, shall--
``(1) as soon as practicable and not later than 24 hours
after acquiring such knowledge, verbally inform an
appropriate Federal agency of the serious danger, unless the
business entity or responsible corporate officer has actual
knowledge that an appropriate Federal agency has been so
informed;
``(2) not later than 15 days after acquiring such
knowledge, inform an appropriate Federal agency in writing of
the serious danger;
``(3) as soon as practicable, but not later than 30 days
after acquiring such knowledge, warn affected employees in
writing, unless the business entity or responsible corporate
officer has actual knowledge that affected employees have
been so warned; and
``(4) as soon as practicable, but not later than 30 days
after acquiring such knowledge, inform individuals, other
than affected employees, who may be exposed to the serious
danger of the serious danger if such individuals can
reasonably be identified.
``(b) Penalty.--
``(1) In general.--Whoever knowingly violates subsection
(a) shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more
than 5 years, or both.
``(2) Prohibition of payment by business entities.--If a
final judgment is rendered and a fine is imposed on an
individual under this subsection, the fine may not be paid,
directly or indirectly, out of the assets of any business
entity on behalf of the individual.
``(c) Civil Action To Protect Against Retaliation.--
``(1) Prohibition.--It shall be unlawful to knowingly
discriminate against any person in the terms or conditions of
employment, in retention in employment, or in hiring because
the person informed a Federal agency, warned employees, or
informed other individuals of a serious danger associated
with a covered product, covered service, or business
practice, as required under this section.
``(2) Enforcement action.--
``(A) In general.--A person who alleges discharge or other
discrimination by any person in violation of paragraph (1)
may seek relief under paragraph (3), by--
``(i) filing a complaint with the Secretary of Labor; or
``(ii) if the Secretary has not issued a final decision
within 180 days of the filing of the complaint and there is
no showing that such delay is due to the bad faith of the
claimant, bringing an action at law or equity for de novo
review in the appropriate district court of the United
States, which shall have jurisdiction over such an action
without regard to the amount in controversy.
``(B) Procedure.--
``(i) In general.--An action under subparagraph (A)(i)
shall be governed under the rules and procedures set forth in
section 42121(b) of title 49.
``(ii) Exception.--Notification made under section
42121(b)(1) of title 49 shall be made to the person named in
the complaint and to the employer.
``(iii) Burdens of proof.--An action brought under
subparagraph (A)(ii) shall be governed by the legal burdens
of proof set forth in section 42121(b) of title 49.
``(iv) Statute of limitations.--An action under
subparagraph (A) shall be commenced not later than 180 days
after the date on which the violation occurs, or after the
date on which the employee became aware of the violation.
``(v) Jury trial.--A party to an action brought under
subparagraph (A)(ii) shall be entitled to trial by jury.
``(3) Remedies.--
``(A) In general.--An employee prevailing in any action
under paragraph (2)(A) shall be entitled to all relief
necessary to make the employee whole.
``(B) Compensatory damages.--Relief for any action under
subparagraph (A) shall include--
``(i) reinstatement with the same seniority status that the
employee would have had, but for the discrimination;
``(ii) the amount of back pay, with interest; and
``(iii) compensation for any special damages sustained as a
result of the discrimination, including litigation costs,
expert witness fees, and reasonable attorney fees.
``(4) Rights retained by employee.--Nothing in this
subsection shall be deemed to diminish the rights,
privileges, or remedies of any employee under any Federal or
State law, or under any collective bargaining agreement.
``(5) Nonenforceability of certain provisions waiving
rights and remedies or requiring arbitration of disputes.--
``(A) Waiver of rights and remedies.--The rights and
remedies provided for in this subsection may not be waived by
any agreement, policy form, or condition of employment,
including by a predispute arbitration agreement.
``(B) Predispute arbitration agreements.--No predispute
arbitration agreement shall be valid or enforceable, if the
agreement requires arbitration of a dispute arising under
this subsection.
``Sec. 2083. Relationship to existing law
``(a) Rights To Intervene.--Nothing in this chapter shall
be construed to limit the right of any individual or group of
individuals to initiate, intervene in, or otherwise
participate in any proceeding before a regulatory agency or
court, nor to relieve any regulatory agency, court, or other
public body of any obligation, or affect its discretion to
permit intervention or participation by an individual or a
group or class of consumers, employees, or citizens in any
proceeding or activity.
``(b) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this chapter shall
be construed to--
``(1) increase the time period for informing of a serious
danger or other harm under any other provision of law; or
``(2) limit or otherwise reduce the penalties for any
violation of Federal or State law under any other provision
of law.''.
(2) Technical and conforming amendment.--The table of
chapters for part I of title 18, United States Code, is
amended by inserting after the item relating to chapter 101
the following:
``101A. Reporting standards................................2081''.....
(3) Effective date.--The amendments made by paragraphs (1)
and (2) shall take effect on the date that is 1 year after
the date of enactment of this Act.
(b) Prohibition on Rendering Safety Elements Inoperative.--
Section 30122 is amended by amending subsection (b) to read
as follows:
``(b) Prohibition.--
``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), a
person may not knowingly make inoperative any part of a
device or element of design installed on or in a motor
vehicle or motor vehicle equipment in compliance with an
applicable motor vehicle safety standard prescribed under
this chapter unless the person reasonably believes the
vehicle or equipment will not be used (except for testing or
a similar purpose during maintenance or repair) when the
device or element is inoperative.
``(2) Exception.--The prohibition under paragraph (1) does
not apply to a modification made by an individual to a motor
vehicle or item of equipment owned or leased by that
individual.''.
(c) Criminal Liability.--Section 30170 is amended by adding
at the end the following;
``(c) Criminal Liability for Tampering With Motor Vehicle
Safety Elements.--Whoever knowing that he will endanger the
safety of any person on board a motor vehicle or anyone who
he believes will board the same, or with a reckless disregard
for the safety of human life, violates section 30122(b) under
this title shall be subject to criminal penalties under
section 33(a) of title 18.''.
SEC. 203. COOPERATION WITH FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS.
(a) Title 49 Amendment.--Section 30182(b) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (4), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a
semicolon;
(2) in paragraph (5), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following:
``(6) enter into cooperative agreements (in coordination
with the Department of State) and collaborative research and
development agreements with foreign governments.''.
(b) Title 23 Amendment.--Section 403 of title 23, United
States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)(2)(C), by inserting ``foreign
government (in coordination with the Department of State),''
after ``institution,''; and
(2) in subsection (c)(1)(A), by inserting ``foreign
governments,'' after ``local governments,''.
SEC. 204. IMMINENT HAZARD AUTHORITY.
Section 30118(b) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``(1) The Secretary may''
and inserting ``(1) In general.--Except as provided under
paragraph (3), the Secretary may'';
(2) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``Orders.--'' before
``If the Secretary''; and
(3) by adding after paragraph (2) the following:
``(3) Imminent hazards.--
``(A) Decisions and orders.--If the Secretary makes an
initial decision that a defect or noncompliance, or
combination of both, under subsection (a) presents an
imminent hazard, the Secretary--
``(i) shall notify the manufacturer of a motor vehicle or
replacement equipment immediately under subsection (a); and
``(ii) shall order the manufacturer of the motor vehicle or
replacement equipment to immediately--
``(I) give notification under section 30119 of this title
to the owners, purchasers, and dealers of the vehicle or
equipment of the imminent hazard; and
``(II) remedy the defect or noncompliance under section
30120 of this title;
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``(iii) notwithstanding section 30119 or 30120, may order
the time for notification, means of providing notification,
earliest remedy date, and time the owner or purchaser has to
present the motor vehicle or equipment, including a tire, for
remedy; and
``(iv) may include in an order under this subparagraph any
other terms or conditions that the Secretary determines
necessary to abate the imminent hazard.
``(B) Opportunity for administrative review.--Subsequent to
the issuance of an order under subparagraph (A), opportunity
for administrative review shall be provided in accordance
with section 554 of title 5, except that such review shall
occur not later than 10 days after issuance of such order.
``(C) Definition of imminent hazard.--In this paragraph,
the term `imminent hazard' means any condition which
substantially increases the likelihood of serious injury or
death if not remedied immediately.''.
SEC. 205. USED PASSENGER MOTOR VEHICLE CONSUMER PROTECTION.
(a) In General.--Section 30120 is amended by adding at the
end the following:
``(k) Limitation on Sale or Lease of Used Passenger Motor
Vehicles.--(1) A dealer may not sell or lease a used
passenger motor vehicle until any defect or noncompliance
determined under section 30118 with respect to the vehicle
has been remedied.
``(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply if--
``(A) the recall information regarding a used passenger
motor vehicle was not accessible at the time of sale or lease
using the means established by the Secretary under section
31301 of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century
Act (49 U.S.C. 30166 note); or
``(B) notification of the defect or noncompliance is
required under section 30118(b), but enforcement of the order
is set aside in a civil action to which 30121(d) applies.
``(3) Notwithstanding section 30102(a)(1), in this
subsection--
``(A) the term `dealer' means a person that has sold at
least 10 motor vehicles to 1 or more consumers during the
most recent 12-month period; and
``(B) the term `used passenger motor vehicle' means a motor
vehicle that has previously been purchased other than for
resale.
``(4) By rule, the Secretary may exempt the auctioning of a
used passenger motor vehicle from the requirements under
paragraph (1) to the extent that the exemption does not harm
public safety.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a)
of this section shall take effect on the date that is 18
months after the date of enactment of this Act.
SEC. 206. UNATTENDED CHILDREN WARNING SYSTEM.
(a) Safety Research Initiative.--Not later than 2 years
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall
complete research into the development of performance
requirements to warn a driver that a child or other
unattended passenger remains in a rear seating position after
a vehicle motor is disengaged.
(b) Specifications.--In completing the research under
subsection (a), the Secretary shall consider performance
requirements that--
(1) sense weight, the presence of a buckled seat belt, or
other indications of the presence of a child or other
passenger; and
(2) provide an alert to prevent hyperthermia and
hypothermia that can result in death or severe injuries.
(c) Rulemaking or Report.--
(1) Rulemaking.--Not later than 1 year after the date that
the research under subsection (a) is complete, the Secretary
shall initiate a rulemaking proceeding to issue a Federal
motor vehicle safety standard if the Secretary determines
that such a standard meets the requirements and
considerations set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of
section 30111 of title 49, United States Code. The Secretary
shall complete the rulemaking and issue a final rule not
later than 2 years after the date the rulemaking is
initiated.
(2) Report.--If the Secretary determines that the standard
described in subsection (a) does not meet the requirements
and considerations set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of
section 30111 of title 49, United States Code, the Secretary
shall submit a report describing the reasons for not
prescribing such a standard to--
(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of
Representatives.
SEC. 207. COLLISION AVOIDANCE TECHNOLOGIES.
(a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall initiate a
rulemaking to establish a Federal motor vehicle safety
standard requiring a motor vehicle with a gross vehicle
weight rating greater than 26,000 pounds be equipped with
crash avoidance and mitigation systems, such as forward
collision automatic braking systems and lane departure
warning systems.
(b) Performance and Standards.--The regulations prescribed
under subsection (a) shall establish performance requirements
and standards to prevent collisions with moving vehicles,
stopped vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, and other road
users.
(c) Effective Date.--The regulations prescribed by the
Secretary under this section shall take effect 2 years after
the date of publication of the final rule.
SEC. 208. MOTOR VEHICLE PEDESTRIAN PROTECTION.
Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary, through the Administrator of the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, shall issue a
final rule that--
(1) establishes standards for the hood and bumper areas of
motor vehicles, including passenger cars, multipurpose
passenger vehicles, trucks, and buses with a gross vehicle
weight rating of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or less, in
order to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities
suffered by pedestrians who are struck by such vehicles; and
(2) considers the protection of vulnerable pedestrian
populations, including children and older adults.
TITLE III--FUNDING
SEC. 301. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 30104 is amended--
(1) by striking ``$98,313,500''; and
(2) by striking ``this part in each fiscal year beginning
in fiscal year 1999 and ending in fiscal year 2001.'' and
inserting the following: ``this chapter and to carry out the
Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 2015--
``(1) $179,000,000 for fiscal year 2016;
``(2) $187,055,000 for fiscal year 2017;
``(3) $195,659,530 for fiscal year 2018;
``(4) $204,268,549 for fiscal year 2019;
``(5) $214,073,440 for fiscal year 2020; and
``(6) $223,920,818 for fiscal year 2021.''.
TITLE IV--RECALL PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS
SEC. 401. RECALL OBLIGATIONS UNDER BANKRUPTCY.
Section 30120A is amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 30120A. Recall obligations and bankruptcy of a
manufacturer
``Notwithstanding any provision of title 11, United States
Code, a manufacturer's duty to comply with section 30112,
sections 30115 through 30121, and section 30166 of this title
shall be enforceable against a manufacturer or a
manufacturer's successors-in-interest whether accomplished by
merger or by acquisition of the manufacturer's stock, the
acquisition of all or substantially all of the manufacturer's
assets or a discrete product line, or confirmation of any
plan of reorganization under section 1129 of title 11.''.
SEC. 402. DEALER REQUIREMENT TO CHECK FOR AND REMEDY RECALL.
Section 30120(f) is amended to read as follows:
``(f) Dealers.--
``(1) Fair reimbursement to dealers.--A manufacturer shall
pay fair reimbursement to a dealer providing a remedy without
charge under this section.
``(2) Requirements.--Each time a defective or noncomplying
motor vehicle is presented to a dealer by the owner of that
motor vehicle for any service on that motor vehicle, the
dealer shall--
``(A) inform the owner of the defect or noncompliance; and
``(B) with consent from the owner, remedy the defect or
noncompliance without charge under this section.''.
SEC. 403. APPLICATION OF REMEDIES FOR DEFECTS AND
NONCOMPLIANCE.
Section 30120(g)(1) is amended by striking ``the motor
vehicle or replacement equipment was bought by the first
purchaser more than 10 calendar years, or''.
SEC. 404. DIRECT VEHICLE NOTIFICATION OF RECALLS.
(a) Rulemaking.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall initiate a
rulemaking for a regulation to require a warning system in
each new motor vehicle to indicate to the operator in a
conspicuous manner when the vehicle is subject to an open
recall.
(b) Final Rule.--The Secretary shall prescribe final
standards not later than 3 years after the date of enactment
of this Act.
SEC. 405. STATE NOTIFICATION OF OPEN SAFETY RECALLS.
(a) Grant Program.--Not later than 2 years after the date
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a
grant program for States to notify registered motor vehicle
owners of safety recalls issued by the manufacturers of those
motor vehicles.
(b) Eligibility.--To be eligible for a grant, a State
shall--
(1) submit an application in such form and manner as the
Secretary prescribes;
(2) agree that when a motor vehicle owner registers the
motor vehicle for use in that State, the State will--
(A) search the recall database maintained by the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration using the motor vehicle
identification number;
(B) determine all safety recalls issued by the manufacturer
of that motor vehicle that have not been completed; and
(C) notify the motor vehicle owner of the safety recalls
described in subparagraph (B); and
(3) provide such other information or notification as the
Secretary may require.
SEC. 406. RECALL COMPLETION PILOT GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall conduct a pilot
program to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a
State process for increasing the recall completion rate for
motor vehicles by requiring each owner or lessee of a motor
vehicle to have repaired any open recall on that motor
vehicle.
(b) Grants.--To carry out this program, the Secretary shall
make a grant to a State to be used to implement the pilot
program
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described in subsection (a) in accordance with the
requirements under subsection (c).
(c) Eligibility.--To be eligible for a grant under this
section, a State shall--
(1) submit an application in such form and manner as the
Secretary prescribes;
(2) meet the requirements and provide notification of
safety recalls to registered motor vehicle owners under the
grant program described in section 405 of this Act;
(3) except as provided in subsection (d), agree to require,
as a condition of motor vehicle registration, including
renewal, that the motor vehicle owner or lessee complete all
remedies for defects and noncompliance offered without charge
by the manufacturer or a dealer under section 30120 of title
49, United States Code; and
(4) provide such other information or notification as the
Secretary may require.
(d) Exception.--A State may exempt a motor vehicle owner or
lessee from the requirement under subsection (c)(3) if--
(1) the recall occurred not earlier than 75 days prior to
the registration or renewal date;
(2) the manufacturer, through a local dealership, has not
provided the motor vehicle owner or lessee with a reasonable
opportunity to complete any applicable safety recall remedy
due to a shortage of necessary parts or qualified labor; or
(3) the motor vehicle owner or lessee states that the owner
or lessee has had no reasonable opportunity to complete all
applicable safety recall remedies, in which case the State
may grant a temporary registration, of not more than 90 days,
during which time the motor vehicle owner or lessee shall
complete all applicable safety recall remedies for which the
necessary parts and qualified labor are available.
(e) Award.--In selecting an applicant for award under this
section, the Secretary shall consider the State's methodology
for--
(1) determining safety recalls on a motor vehicle;
(2) informing the owner or lessee of a motor vehicle of the
safety recalls;
(3) requiring the owner or lessee of a motor vehicle to
repair any safety recall prior to issuing any registration,
approval, document, or certificate related to a motor vehicle
registration renewal; and
(4) determining performance in increasing the safety recall
completion rate.
(f) Performance Period.--A grant awarded under this section
shall require a performance period for at least 2 years.
(g) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the completion of
the performance period under subsection (f) and the
obligations under the pilot program, the grantee shall
provide to the Secretary a report of performance containing
such information as the Secretary considers necessary to
evaluate the extent to which safety recalls have been
remedied.
(h) Evaluation.--Not later than 1 year after the date the
Secretary receives the report under subsection (g), the
Secretary shall evaluate the extent to which safety recalls
identified under subsection (c) have been remedied.
SEC. 407. IMPROVEMENTS TO NOTIFICATION OF DEFECT OR
NONCOMPLIANCE.
(a) Improvements to Notification.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 270 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe a final
rule revising the regulations under section 577.7 of title
49, Code of Federal Regulations, to include notification by
electronic means in addition to notification by first class
mail.
(2) Definition of electronic means.--In this subsection,
the term ``electronic means'' includes electronic mail and
may include such other means of electronic notification, such
as social media or targeted online campaigns, as determined
by the Secretary.
(b) Notification by Electronic Mail.--Section 30118(c) is
amended by inserting ``or electronic mail'' after ``certified
mail''.
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