[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 163 (Wednesday, October 16, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S5847]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. SCHUMER (for himself and Mrs. Gillibrand):
  S. 2605. A bill to amend title 49, United States Code, to require the 
Secretary of Transportation to award grants to States that have enacted 
and are enforcing certain laws with respect to stretch limousines, and 
for other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation.
  Mr. SCHUMER. 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. 2605

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Take Unsafe Limos Off the 
     Road Act''.

     SEC. 2. GRANT PROGRAM FOR SAFETY OF STRETCH LIMOUSINES.

       (a) In General.--Subchapter IV of chapter 311 of title 49, 
     United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:

     ``Sec. 31162. Grant program for safety of stretch limousines

       ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) Eligible defect.--The term `eligible defect' means a 
     defect that would cause a motor vehicle to fail a commercial 
     motor vehicle safety inspection.
       ``(2) Passenger motor vehicle.--The term `passenger motor 
     vehicle' has the meaning given the term in section 32101.
       ``(3) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary 
     of Transportation.
       ``(4) Stretch limousine.--The term `stretch limousine' 
     means a new or used passenger motor vehicle that--
       ``(A) has been modified, altered, or extended in a manner 
     that increases the overall wheelbase of the vehicle--
       ``(i) beyond the wheelbase dimension of the original 
     equipment manufacturer for the base model and year of the 
     vehicle; and
       ``(ii) to a length sufficient to accommodate additional 
     passengers; and
       ``(B) after being altered as described in subparagraph (A), 
     has a seating capacity of not fewer than 9 passengers, 
     including the driver.
       ``(b) Grant Program.--Each fiscal year, the Secretary shall 
     make a grant, in accordance with this section, to each State 
     that is eligible for a grant under subsection (c).
       ``(c) Eligibility.--A State is eligible for a grant under 
     this section for a fiscal year if, on October 1 of that 
     fiscal year, the State--
       ``(1) has enacted a law that requires the impoundment or 
     immobilization of a stretch limousine that is found to have 
     an eligible defect on inspection; and
       ``(2) is enforcing the law described in paragraph (1), as 
     determined by the Secretary.
       ``(d) Grant Amounts.--
       ``(1) In general.--Beginning on October 1 of the first 
     fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of this 
     section, the Secretary shall apportion the amounts 
     appropriated to carry out this section to each State that is 
     eligible to receive a grant under subsection (c) in an amount 
     that is equal to the quotient obtained by dividing--
       ``(A) the difference between--
       ``(i) $5,000,000; and
       ``(ii) the total amount provided to States under paragraph 
     (2); and
       ``(B) the number of States eligible for a grant under 
     subsection (c) for the fiscal year.
       ``(2) Increase of grant amounts.--Beginning on October 1 of 
     the first fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment 
     of this section, a State that is eligible for a grant under 
     subsection (c) may receive an additional $50,000 in grant 
     funds if, on October 1 of that fiscal year, the State has 
     enacted and is enforcing a law or regulation that requires--
       ``(A) any safety inspection of a stretch limousine to be 
     conducted at a designated site controlled by the State; and
       ``(B) the inspection described in subparagraph (A) to be 
     conducted by employees trained in the inspection of stretch 
     limousines.
       ``(e) Use of Funds.--A State receiving a grant under this 
     section may use grant amounts--
       ``(1) for the impoundment or immobilization of a stretch 
     limousine;
       ``(2) for the establishment and operating expenses of 
     designated stretch limousine safety inspection sites; or
       ``(3) to train employees in the inspection of stretch 
     limousines.
       ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section 
     $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2024.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for subchapter IV of 
     chapter 311 of title 49 is amended by inserting after the 
     item relating to section 31161 the following:

``31162. Grant program for safety of stretch limousines.''.
                                 ______