[House Report 112-625] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] 112th Congress Report HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session 112-625 ====================================================================== TO AUTHORIZE THE ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL TO ESTABLISH BATTERY RECHARGING STATIONS FOR PRIVATELY OWNED VEHICLES IN PARKING AREAS UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AT NO NET COST TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT _______ July 26, 2012.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed _______ Mr. Daniel E. Lungren of California, from the Committee on House Administration, submitted the following R E P O R T [To accompany H.R. 1402] The Committee on House Administration, to whom was referred the bill (H.R. 1402) to authorize the Architect of the Capitol to establish battery recharging stations for privately owned vehicles in parking areas under the jurisdiction of the House of Representatives at no net cost to the Federal Government, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with an amendment and recommend that the bill as amended do pass. The amendment is as follows: Amend section 1(e) to read as follows: (e) Reports.-- (1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the end of each fiscal year, the Architect of the Capitol shall submit a report on the financial administration and cost recovery of activities under this section with respect to that fiscal year to the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives. (2) Avoiding subsidy.-- (A) Determination.--Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act and every 3 years thereafter, the Architect of the Capitol shall submit a report to the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives determining whether Members (including any Delegate or Resident Commissioner to Congress) and covered employees using battery charging stations as authorized by this Act are receiving a subsidy from the taxpayers. (B) Modification of rates and fees.--If a determination is made under subparagraph (A) that a subsidy is being received, the Architect of the Capitol shall submit a plan to the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives on how to update the program to ensure no subsidy is being received. If the committee does not act on the plan within 60 days, the Architect of the Capitol shall take appropriate steps to increase rates or fees to ensure reimbursement for the cost of the program consistent with an appropriate schedule for amortization, to be charged to those using the charging stations. BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR THE LEGISLATION H.R. 1402 authorizes the Architect of the Capitol to designate battery recharging stations for privately owned vehicles in House garages. The users of the recharging stations will be charged a fee approved by the Committee on House Administration to ensure there is no net cost for this service borne by the government. During the consideration of the bill by the Committee on House Administration, Chairman Daniel E. Lungren offered an amendment to adopt language that parallels the Senate's companion electric car bill, S. 739. Under this amendment, if the Architect of the Capitol determined that Members and congressional staff using electric cars were receiving a subsidy, the Committee on House Administration would receive a plan from the Architect to recover those costs. If the Committee on House Administration did not act within 60 days, then the Architect would take appropriate steps to increase rates or fees to ensure there is no subsidy to the electric car drivers. INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL On April 6, 2011, Congressman Dale Kildee introduced H.R. 1402, which was referred to the Committee on House Administration. HEARINGS There were no legislative hearings held on H.R. 1402. COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION On July 19, 2012, the Committee on House Administration met to consider H.R. 1402. The Committee ordered the bill reported favorably, with an amendment, to the House by voice vote, with a quorum present. COMMITTEE RECORD VOTES In compliance with House Rule XIII, clause 3(b), requiring the results of each record vote on an amendment or motion to report, together with the names of those voting for and against, to be printed in the Committee report, the Committee states that there were no record votes during the Committee's consideration of H.R. 1402. COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS In compliance with House Rule XIII, clause 3(c)(1), the Committee states that the findings and recommendations of the Committee, based on oversight activities under House Rule X, clause 2(b)(1), are incorporated into the general discussion section of this report. STATEMENT OF BUDGET AUTHORITY AND RELATED ITEMS The bill does not provide new budget authority, new spending authority, new credit authority, or an increase or decrease in revenues or tax expenditures and a statement under House Rule XIII, clause 3(c)(2), and section 308(a)(1) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 is not required. CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE COST ESTIMATE In compliance with House Rule XIII, clause 3(c)(3), the Committee states, with respect to the bill, H.R. 1402, that the Director of the Congressional Budget Office did not submit a cost estimate and comparison under section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES In compliance with House Rule XIII, clause 3(c)(4), the Committee states that the general discussion section of this report includes a statement of the general performance goals and objectives, including outcome-related goals and objectives, for which H.R. 1402 authorizes funding. ADVISORY ON EARMARKS In accordance with House Rule XXI, clause 9, the Committee states that H.R. 1402 does not contain any congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in clause 9(e), 9(f), or 9(g) of Rule XXI. CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL In compliance with House Rule XIII, clause 3(e), the Committee states that H.R. 1402 does not make any changes to existing law.