[House Report 111-255]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


111th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session                                                    111-255

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 PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL (H.R. 3246) TO PROVIDE FOR A 
    PROGRAM OF RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, DEMONSTRATION, AND COMMERCIAL 
    APPLICATION IN VEHICLE TECHNOLOGIES AT THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

                                _______
                                

 September 15, 2009.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be 
                                printed

                                _______
                                

    Ms. Matsui, from the Committee on Rules, submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                       [To accompany H. Res. 745]

    The Committee on Rules, having had under consideration 
House Resolution 745, by a nonrecord vote, report the same to 
the House with the recommendation that the resolution be 
adopted.

                SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS OF THE RESOLUTION

    The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 3246, the 
``Advanced Vehicle Technology Act of 2009,'' under a structured 
rule. The resolution waives all points of order against 
consideration of the bill except those arising under clause 9 
or 10 of rule XXI. The resolution provides one hour of general 
debate equally divided and controlled by the chairman and 
ranking minority member of the Committee on Science and 
Technology.
    The resolution provides that the amendment in the nature of 
a substitute recommended by the Committee on Science and 
Technology now printed in the bill shall be considered as an 
original bill for the purpose of amendment and shall be 
considered as read. The resolution waives all points of order 
against the amendment in the nature of a substitute except for 
clause 10 of rule XXI. This waiver does not affect the point of 
order available under clause 9 of rule XXI (regarding earmark 
disclosure). The resolution makes in order only those 
amendments printed in this report. The amendments made in order 
may be offered only in the order printed in this report, may be 
offered only by a Member designated in this report, shall be 
considered as read, shall be debatable for the time specified 
in this report equally divided and controlled by the proponent 
and an opponent, shall not be subject to amendment, and shall 
not be subject to a demand for division of the question in the 
House or in the Committee of the Whole. All points of order 
against the amendments except those arising under clause 9 or 
10 of rule XXI are waived.
    The resolution provides one motion to recommit with or 
without instructions. The resolution provides that the Chair 
may entertain a motion that the Committee rise only if offered 
by the chair of the Committee on Science and Technology or a 
designee. Finally, the resolution provides that the Chair may 
not entertain a motion to strike out the enacting words of the 
bill.

                         EXPLANATION OF WAIVERS

    Although the rule waives all points of order against the 
bill and its consideration (except those arising under clause 9 
or 10 of rule XXI), the Committee is not aware of any points of 
order. The waivers are prophylactic.

                            COMMITTEE VOTES

    The results of each record vote on an amendment or motion 
to report, together with the names of those voting for and 
against, are printed below:

Rules Committee record vote No. 245

    Date: September 15, 2009.
    Measure: H.R. 3246.
    Motion by: Mr. Lincoln Diaz-Balart of Florida.
    Summary of motion: To make in order and provide appropriate 
waivers for an amendment by Rep. Teague (NM), #12, which would 
ensure that there is investment in research of natural gas 
vehicle technology and that natural gas utilities participate 
in the Department of Energy's vehicle research and development 
program. It also would specify that an objective of the bill is 
to reduce vehicle reliance on imported petroleum-based fuels.
    Results: Defeated 4-7.
    Vote by Members: McGovern--Nay; Matsui--Nay; Cardoza--Nay; 
Arcuri--Nay; Pingree--Nay; Polis--Nay; Dreier--Yea; Diaz-
Balart, L.--Yea; Sessions--Yea; Foxx--Yea; Slaughter--Nay.

               SUMMARY OF AMENDMENTS TO BE MADE IN ORDER

    1. Gordon (TN): Would (1) amend title I to require the 
Secretary of Energy to report to Congress after 18 months, and 
annually thereafter through 2015, after enactment on the 
technologies developed, the success of the adopted technologies 
for commercial applications, and whether those technologies are 
manufactured in the United States; (2) amend the reporting 
requirement in title II to clarify that the Secretary of Energy 
must submit the report to Congress annually; and (3) expand the 
nonroad systems program from heavy duty nonroad equipment to 
mobile nonroad equipment. (20 minutes)
    2. Broun (GA): Would freeze authorization amounts at FY2010 
levels through FY2013 and cut funding in FY2014. (10 minutes)
    3. Broun (GA): Would add a requirement to title I that the 
Secretary of Energy submit to Congress an annual report 
describing activities undertaken in the previous year, active 
industry participants, efforts to recruit new participants, 
progress of the program in meeting goals and timelines, and a 
strategic plan for funding of activities across agencies. (10 
minutes)
    4. Polis (CO): Would include retrofitting advanced vehicle 
technologies to existing vehicles as an area of research under 
the bill. (10 minutes)
    5. Posey (FL), Kosmas (FL): Would direct the Secretary of 
Energy to establish within the existing Vehicle Technologies 
Program an Innovative Automotive Demonstration Program to make 
competitively awarded grants for the purpose of demonstrating 
and bringing to market very high energy efficiency vehicles 
achieving at least 70 miles per gallon. (10 minutes)
    6. Kennedy (RI): Would amend industry participation in the 
vehicle research and development program (sec. 101) to include 
manufacturers of all qualified plug-in electric vehicles. (10 
minutes)
    7. Holt (NJ): Would explicitly include agricultural and 
construction equipment in the nonroad systems pilot program 
(sec. 204). (10 minutes)
    8. Marshall (GA): Would require that research into 
refueling and recharging infrastructure for alternative and 
hybrid fuel vehicles include the unique challenges facing rural 
areas. (10 minutes)
    9. Cohen (TN): Would add hydraulics, flywheels, and 
compressed air storage as technologies eligible for the 
proposed program. (10 minutes)
    10. Donnelly (IN), Souder (IN), DeFazio (OR): Would include 
recreational vehicles as eligible under the Medium and Heavy 
Duty Commercial and Transit Vehicles research and development 
program (sec. 201). (10 minutes)
    11. Sestak (PA): Would require the Secretary of Energy to 
research and develop methods of reducing waste and emissions 
from advanced battery technology and to increase advanced 
battery calendar and cycle life. (10 minutes)
    12. Massa (NY): Would authorize support for public-private 
partnerships and industry programs that seek to overcome 
barriers to commercial production. (10 minutes)

                    TEXT OF AMENDMENTS MADE IN ORDER

    1. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Gordon, Bart of 
          Tennessee or His Designee, Debatable for 20 Minutes

  Page 15, after line 9, insert the following new section:

SEC. 105. REPORTING.

  Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this 
Act and annually thereafter through 2015, the Secretary of 
Energy shall transmit to Congress a report regarding the 
technologies developed as a result of the activities authorized 
by this title, with a particular emphasis on whether the 
technologies were successfully adopted for commercial 
applications, and if so, whether those technologies are 
manufactured in the United States.
  Page 18, line 20, through page 19, line 2, amend subsection 
(c) to read as follows:
  (c) Reporting.--At the end of each fiscal year, the Secretary 
shall submit to the Congress an annual report describing 
activities undertaken in the previous year, active industry 
participants, efforts to recruit new participants, progress of 
the program in meeting goals and timelines, and a strategic 
plan for funding of activities across agencies.
  Page 20, line 13, strike ``heavy duty''.
  Page 20, line 13, insert ``mobile'' after ``nonroad''.
                              ----------                              


2. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Broun, Paul of Georgia 
               or His Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

  Page 6, line 8, strike ``$560,000,000'' and insert 
``$550,000,000''.
  Page 6, line 9, strike ``$570,000,000'' and insert 
``$550,000,000''.
  Page 6, line 10, strike ``$580,000,000'' and insert 
``$550,000,000''.
  Page 6, line 11, strike paragraph (5).
  Page 6, line 17, strike ``$210,000,000'' and insert 
``$200,000,000''.
  Page 6, line 18, strike ``$220,000,000'' and insert 
``$200,000,000''.
  Page 6, line 19, strike ``$230,000,000'' and insert 
``$200,000,000''.
  Page 6, line 20, strike paragraph (5).
  Page 7, line 2, strike paragraph (5).
                              ----------                              


3. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Broun, Paul of Georgia 
               or His Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

  Page 15, after line 9, insert the following new section:

SEC. 105. REPORTING.

  At the end of each fiscal year the Secretary shall submit to 
the relevant Congressional committees of jurisdiction an annual 
report describing activities undertaken in the previous year 
under this title, active industry participants, efforts to 
recruit new participants, progress of the program in meeting 
goals and timelines, and a strategic plan for funding of 
activities across agencies.
                              ----------                              


    4. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Polis, Jared of 
           Colorado or His Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

  Page 9, lines 11 and 14, redesignate paragraphs (24) and (25) 
as paragraphs (25) and (26), respectively.
  Page 9, after line 10, insert the following new paragraph:
          (24) retrofitting advanced vehicle technologies to 
        existing vehicles;
                              ----------                              


5. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Posey, Bill of Florida 
               or His Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

  Page 15, after line 9, insert the following new section:

SEC. 105. INNOVATIVE AUTOMOTIVE DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.

  The Secretary shall establish an Innovative Automotive 
Demonstration Program, within the existing Vehicle Technologies 
Program, to encourage the introduction of new vehicles into the 
marketplace that are designed in their entirety to achieve very 
high energy efficiency but still provide the capabilities 
required by the American consumer. This program shall encourage 
introduction of new light duty vehicles into the marketplace 
capable of achieving energy efficiencies significantly greater 
than required under current and pending Federal Corporate 
Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. This program shall also 
encourage the use of materials and manufacturing techniques 
that minimize environmental impacts. Awards under this section 
shall be made on a competitive basis for demonstration of 
vehicles that--
          (1) carry at least four passengers;
          (2) meet all Federal safety requirements;
          (3) achieve at least 70 miles per gallon or the 
        equivalent on the Environmental Protection Agency drive 
        cycle;
          (4) provide vehicle performance that is judged 
        acceptable to the United States consumer;
          (5) be affordable to the American consumer;
          (6) use materials and manufacturing processes that 
        minimize environmental impacts;
          (7) meet all Federal and State emission requirements; 
        and
          (8) provide new high technology engineering and 
        production employment opportunities.
                              ----------                              


  6. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Kennedy, Patrick of 
         Rhode Island or His Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

  Page 10, line 12, insert ``qualified plug-in electric vehicle 
manufacturers,'' after ``transit vehicle manufacturers,''.
                              ----------                              


   7. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Holt, Rush of New 
            Jersey or His Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

  Page 20, line 13, insert ``including agricultural and 
construction equipment,'' after ``nonroad equipment,''.
                              ----------                              


   8. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Marshall, Jim of 
           Georgia or His Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

  Page 8, line 24, insert ``, including the unique challenges 
facing rural areas'' after ``electric hybrid vehicles''.
                              ----------                              


    9. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Cohen, Steve of 
          Tennessee or His Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

  Page 10, lines 1 through 3, amend paragraph (2) to read as 
follows:

          (2) multiple battery chemistries and novel energy 
        storage devices, including nonchemical batteries and 
        electromechanical storage technologies such as 
        hydraulics, flywheels, and compressed air storage;
                              ----------                              


   10. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Donnelly, Joe of 
           Indiana or His Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

  Page 15, line 20, insert ``, recreational,'' after ``heavy-
duty commercial''.
  Page 17, line 11, insert ``, recreational,'' after ``heavy-
duty commercial''.
                              ----------                              


    11. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Sestak, Joe of 
         Pennsylvania or His Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

  Page 14, line 5, insert ``advanced battery'' after ``vehicle, 
engine,''.
  Page 14, line 16, strike ``; and'' and insert a semicolon.
  Page 14, line 17, redesignate paragraph (8) as paragraph (9).
  Page 14, after line 16, insert the following new paragraph:
          (8) improve the calendar life and cycle life of 
        advanced batteries; and
                              ----------                              


  12. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Massa, Eric of New 
             York or His Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

  Page 11, lines 12 through 14, amend paragraph (4) to read as 
follows:
          (4) give consideration to conversion of existing or 
        former vehicle technology development or manufacturing 
        facilities for the purposes of this Act, and support 
        public-private partnerships dedicated to overcoming 
        barriers in commercial application of transformational 
        vehicle technologies that utilize such industry-led 
        facilities; and