To provide for a comprehensive assessment of the scientific and technical research on the implications of the use of mid-level ethanol blends, and for other purposes.
Latest action · Dec 12, 2014 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 499.
Progress
Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.
- IntroducedFeb 27, 2013
- Passed HouseNot reached
- Passed SenateNot reached
- To the PresidentNot reached
- Became lawNot reached
Summary
(Sec. 2) Requires the Assistant Administrator of the Office of Research and Development at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to:
- enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to make a comprehensive assessment of research on the implications of using mid-level ethanol blends, comparing mid-level ethanol blends to gasoline blends containing 10% and 0% ethanol; and
- report on assessment findings and whether the EPA Administrator agrees or disagrees with each of them.
Defines a mid-level ethanol blend as an ethanol-gasoline blend containing greater than 10% and up to and including 20% ethanol by volume that is intended to be used in any conventional gasoline-powered onroad, nonroad, or marine engine, or onroad or nonroad vehicle.
Nullifies waivers granted under the Clean Air Act before the enactment of this Act that allow the introduction into commerce of mid-level ethanol blends for use in motor vehicles, and prohibits the Administrator from granting any new waivers until after the report is submitted.
Requires the assessment to include: (1) an evaluation of the environmental, safety, durability, and performance effects of the introduction of mid-level blends on onroad, nonroad, and marine engines, onroad and nonroad vehicles, and related equipment; and (2) an identification of areas of research, development, and testing necessary to ensure that existing motor fuel infrastructure is not adversely impacted by mid-level ethanol blends and to reduce the risk of misfueling by users at various points in the distribution and supply chain.
Requires the evaluation to review all available scientific evidence and identify gaps in understanding and research needs related to tailpipe emissions, evaporative emissions, engine and fuel system durability, onboard diagnostics, emissions inventory and other modeling effects, materials compatibility, operability and drivability, fuel efficiency, fuel economy, consumer education and satisfaction, cost-effectiveness for the consumer, catalyst durability, and durability of storage tanks, piping, and dispensers for retail.
(Sec. 3) Directs the Administrator to use certain funds made available to the EPA for science and technology, including research and development activities, to carry out this Act.
Cosponsors 24
Members who signed on, in the order they did. Signatures ran from Feb 27, 2013 to May 6, 2014; 5 are original cosponsors, there from the day it was introduced.
| Seat | Cosponsor | Signed on | |
|---|---|---|---|
| R-TX | Lamar Smith | Original | Feb 27, 2013 |
| R-GA | Lynn A. Westmoreland | Original | Feb 27, 2013 |
| R-GA | Paul C. Broun | Original | Feb 27, 2013 |
| R-TX | Ralph M. Hall | Original | Feb 27, 2013 |
| R-AR | Tim Griffin | Original | Feb 27, 2013 |
| R-CA | John Campbell | Mar 4, 2013 | |
| R-NY | Richard L. Hanna | Mar 4, 2013 | |
| R-TX | Steve Stockman | Mar 6, 2013 | |
| R-MI | Tim Walberg | Mar 6, 2013 | |
| R-SC | Jeff Duncan | Mar 12, 2013 | |
| R-WI | Thomas E. Petri | Mar 12, 2013 | |
| R-FL | Bill Posey | Apr 9, 2013 | |
| R-AZ | Matt Salmon | Apr 19, 2013 | |
| R-MD | Andy Harris | May 17, 2013 | |
| R-NC | Walter B. Jones | May 17, 2013 |
Committees 2
Where it was sent and what each committee and subcommittee did with it, in order.
| Chamber | Committee | What it did |
|---|---|---|
| House | Science, Space, and Technology Committee | Referred Feb 27, 2013Markup Apr 11, 2013Reported Dec 12, 2014 |
| Environment Subcommittee | Referred Mar 7, 2013 | |
| House | Energy and Commerce Committee | Referred Feb 27, 2013Discharged Dec 12, 2014 |
| Energy Subcommittee | Referred Mar 1, 2013 |
Actions 9
Everything that happened, newest first.
- Dec 12, 2014Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. H. Rept. 113-667, Part I.
- Dec 12, 2014Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged.
- Dec 12, 2014Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 499.
- Apr 11, 2013Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
- Apr 11, 2013Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 18 - 17.
- Mar 7, 2013Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment.
- Mar 1, 2013Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Power.
- Feb 27, 2013Introduced in House
- Feb 27, 2013Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Research
What has been written about this bill: committee reports, cost estimates, the sponsor’s authority statement, printed hearings and the Congressional Research Service’s work.
Committee report
Constitutional authority
The sponsor’s statement, as printed in the page H703.
CRS reports 2
Congressional Research Service work that CRS links to this bill or the law it became, newest first.
Cite it 2
Products on other subjects that cite it, usually among other measures.
| Product | Title | Kind | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| R40155 | Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS): Overview and Issues Archived | Report | Nov 22, 2013 |
| R41282 | Agriculture-Based Biofuels: Overview and Emerging Issues Archived | Report | May 1, 2013 |
Titles 1
Every title it has carried, official and short, at each stage.
- Official Title as Introduced
- To provide for a comprehensive assessment of the scientific and technical research on the implications of the use of mid-level ethanol blends, and for other purposes.
Subjects
Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Energy.
- Administrative remedies
- Air quality
- Alternative and renewable resources
- Congressional oversight
- Consumer affairs
- Energy
- Energy efficiency and conservation
- Energy research
- Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Motor fuels
- Motor vehicles
- Research administration and funding
- Research and development
Text 2
Each version as it was printed, newest first.
- Dec 12, 2014Reported in House
- Feb 27, 2013Introduced in House
Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov; cost estimates are the Congressional Budget Office's, and the hearings are the printed hearings GovInfo publishes, which can appear months after the hearing.
