WASHINGTON, DC - The House of Representatives today approved important proposals from the Energy and Commerce Committee to improve auto safety and strengthen American energy security as part of the long-term highway bill. The measures build upon the committee’s bipartisan #RecordOfSuccess.
“This is a big win for the American people. Working together, we developed solutions to improve vehicle safety for American families, ensure that we have the energy security to protect our grid, and modernize government for the 21st century," said Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI). “We have more work ahead, but American families can rest assured this holiday season that the safety of the American people is always our top priority."
Approved with strong bipartisan support, the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act included a number of bills and proposals from the Energy and Commerce Committee, these include:
* An amendment from Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee Chairman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX) to improve vehicle safety by reforming auto safety recall processes and modernizing the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,
* H.R. 2675, the Low Volume Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Act, authored by Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) to promote growth and innovation within the low-volume manufacturing industry by creating a framework for low-volume manufacturers to produce replica vehicles.
* An amendment from Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) to keep defective vehicles off the road by requiring automakers to provide more information about defective parts in their recall notices.
* H.R. 1558, the Resolving Environmental and Grid Reliability Conflicts Act of 2015, authored by Reps. Pete Olson (R-TX), Gene Green (D-TX), and Mike Doyle (D-PA). H.R. 1558 would provide certainty to electric utilities and protect grid reliability across the country.
* H.R. 2244, To establish a Strategic Transformer Reserve program, and for other purposes, authored by Reps. Renee Ellmers (R-NC) and Jerry McNerney (D-CA). This legislation would ask the Department of Energy to submit a plan to Congress outlining the feasibility of establishing a Strategic Transformer Reserve in an effort to increase the United States’ capability to deal with 21st century threats to electric grid reliability.
* H.R. 2271, Critical Electric Infrastructure Protection Act, authored by Reps. Bob Latta (R-OH), Renee Ellmers and Jerry McNerney. H.R. 2271 would better protect our critical electric infrastructure by providing private entities and the federal government the tools they need to better respond and alleviate grid security emergencies.
* H.R. 3923, Provides for a report that develops United States energy security valuation methods, authored by Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC). Mr. Hudson’s bill would strengthen our energy security by establishing U.S. energy security valuation methods to ensure that energy-related actions don’t negatively impact the supply, distribution, and use of energy throughout the United States.
* H.R. 3941, authored by Rep. Leonard Lance (R-NJ). Recent natural disasters have underscored the importance of having resilient and reliable energy infrastructure. This legislation strengthens communication and coordination between the Department of Energy and first responders to speed up emergency response and recovery.
* An amendment from Rep. Mullin to provide regulatory parity for natural gas vehicles.
