15 U.S.C. § 2501 — Congressional findings and policy

Page 1837 TITLE 15—COMMERCE AND TRADE § 2501 provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to classifica- tion and General Schedule pay rates; (5) obtain the services of experts and con- sultants in accordance with the provisions of section 3109 of title 5, at rates for individuals not to exceed the maximum daily rate pre- scribed for GS–18 under section 5332 of title 5; (6) accept and utilize the services of vol- untary and noncompensated personnel and re- imburse them for travel expenses, including per diem as authorized by section 5703 of title 5; (7) utilize, on a reimbursable or non- reimbursable basis the services, equipment, personnel, and facilities of any other depart- ment or agency of the United States; (8) establish one or more task forces to as- sist and advise the Center, composed of indi- viduals who, by reason of experience, are qualified for such service. Each member of any such task force who is not an officer or em- ployee of the Federal Government may receive an amount not to exceed the maximum daily rate prescribed for GS–18 under section 5332 of title 5 for each day such individual is engaged in the actual performance of duties (including traveltime) as a member of such a task force. Members may be reimbursed for travel, sub- sistence, and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties; and (9) make advances, progress, and other pay- ments deemed necessary under this chapter without regard to the provisions of section 3324(a) and (b) of title 31. (Pub. L. 94–136, title IV, § 401, Nov. 28, 1975, 89 Stat. 741.) Editorial Notes CODIFICATION In par. (9), ‘‘section 3324(a) and (b) of title 31’’ sub- stituted for ‘‘section 3648 of the Revised Statutes, as amended (21 [31] U.S.C. 529)’’ on authority of Pub. L. 97–258, § 4(b), Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1067, the first sec- tion of which enacted Title 31, Money and Finance. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries REFERENCES IN OTHER LAWS TO GS–16, 17, OR 18 PAY RATES References in laws to the rates of pay for GS–16, 17, or 18, or to maximum rates of pay under the General Schedule, to be considered references to rates payable under specified sections of Title 5, Government Organi- zation and Employees, see section 529 [title I, § 101(c)(1)] of Pub. L. 101–509, set out in a note under section 5376 of Title 5. SUBCHAPTER V—EVALUATION BY COMPTROLLER GENERAL § 2461. Audit, review, and evaluation (a) Audit, etc., by Comptroller General The Comptroller General of the United States shall audit, review, and evaluate the implemen- tation of the provisions of this chapter by the Center. (b) Report to Congress; contents Not less than thirty months nor more than thirty-six months after November 28, 1975, the Comptroller General shall prepare and submit to the Congress a report on his audit conducted pursuant to subsection (a), which shall contain, but not be limited to, the following: (1) an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Center’s activities; (2) an evaluation of the effect of the activi- ties of the Center on the efficiency, and effec- tiveness, of affected Federal agencies in car- rying out their assigned functions and duties under this chapter; and (3) recommendations concerning any legisla- tion he deems necessary, and the reasons therefor, for improving the implementation of the objectives of this chapter as set forth in section 2402 of this title. (Pub. L. 94–136, title V, § 501, Nov. 28, 1975, 89 Stat. 742.) SUBCHAPTER VI—AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS § 2471. Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the purposes of this chapter, not to ex- ceed $6,250,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1976, and the subsequent transition period end- ing September 30, 1976; not to exceed $5,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1977; and not to exceed $5,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1978. Funds appropriated for any fiscal year shall remain available for obligation until expended. (Pub. L. 94–136, title VII, § 701, Nov. 28, 1975, 89 Stat. 743.) CHAPTER 52—ELECTRIC AND HYBRID VEHI- CLE RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND DEMONSTRATION Sec. 2501. Congressional findings and policy. 2502. Definitions. 2503. Duties of Secretary of Energy. 2504. Coordination between Secretary of Energy and other agencies. 2505. Research and development. 2506. Demonstrations. 2507. Contracts. 2508. Encouragement and protection of small busi- ness. 2509. Loan guarantees. 2510. Use of electric and hybrid vehicles by Federal agencies. 2511. Patents. 2512. Studies. 2513. Repealed. 2514. Authorization for appropriations. § 2501. Congressional findings and policy (a) The Congress finds and declares that— (1) the Nation’s dependence on foreign sources of petroleum must be reduced, as such dependence jeopardizes national security, in- hibits foreign policy, and undermines eco- nomic well-being; (2) the Nation’s balance of payments is threatened by the need to import oil for the production of liquid fuel for gasoline-powered vehicles; (3) the single largest use of petroleum sup- plies is in the field of transportation, for gasoline- and diesel-powered motor vehicles; Page 1838 TITLE 15—COMMERCE AND TRADE § 2502 (4) the expeditious introduction of electric and hybrid vehicles into the Nation’s transpor- tation fleet would substantially reduce such use and dependence; (5) such introduction is practicable and would be advantageous because— (A) most urban driving consists of short trips, which are within the capability of electric and hybrid vehicles; (B) much rural and agricultural driving of automobiles, tractors, and trucks is within the capability of such vehicles; (C) electric and hybrid vehicles are more reliable and practical now than in the past because propulsion, control, and battery technologies have improved, and further sig- nificant improvements in such technologies are possible in the near term; (D) electric and hybrid vehicles use little or no energy when stopped in traffic, in con- trast to conventional automobiles and trucks; (E) the power requirements of such vehi- cles could be satisfied by charging them dur- ing off-peak periods when existing electric generating plants are underutilized, thereby permitting more efficient use of existing generating capacity; (F) such vehicles do not emit any signifi- cant pollutants or noise; and (G) it is environmentally desirable for transportation systems to be powered from central sources, because pollutants emitted from stationary sources (such as electric generating plants) are potentially easier to control than pollutants emitted from mov- ing vehicles; and (6) the introduction of electric and hybrid vehicles would be facilitated by the establish- ment of a Federal program of research, devel- opment, and demonstration to explore electric and hybrid vehicle technologies. (b) It is therefore declared to be the policy of the Congress in this chapter to— (1) encourage and support accelerated re- search into, and development of, electric and hybrid vehicle technologies; (2) demonstrate the economic and techno- logical practicability of electric and hybrid vehicles for personal and commercial use in urban areas and for agricultural and personal use in rural areas; (3) facilitate, and remove barriers to, the use of electric and hybrid vehicles in lieu of gasoline- and diesel-powered motor vehicles, where practicable; and (4) promote the substitution of electric and hybrid vehicles for many gasoline- and diesel- powered vehicles currently used in routine short-haul, low-load applications, where such substitution would be beneficial. (Pub. L. 94–413, § 2, Sept. 17, 1976, 90 Stat. 1260.) Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries SHORT TITLE Pub. L. 94–413, § 1, Sept. 17, 1976, 90 Stat. 1260, pro- vided: ‘‘That this Act [enacting this chapter and amending sections 2451 and 2473 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare] may be cited as the ‘Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Research, Development, and Dem- onstration Act of 1976’.’’ § 2502. Definitions As used in this chapter, the term— (1) Omitted. (2) ‘‘advanced electric or hybrid vehicle’’ means a vehicle which— (A) minimizes the total amount of energy to be consumed with respect to its fabrica- tion, operation, and disposal, and represents a substantial improvement over existing electric and hybrid vehicles with respect to the total amount of energy so consumed; (B) is capable of being mass-produced and operated at a cost and in a manner which is sufficiently competitive to enable it to be produced and sold in numbers representing a reasonable portion of the market; (C) is safe, damage-resistant, easy to re- pair, durable, and operates with sufficient performance with respect to acceleration, cold-weather starting, cruising speed, and other performance factors; and (D) at a minimum, can be produced, dis- tributed, operated, and disposed of in com- pliance with any applicable requirement of Federal law; (3) ‘‘commercial electric or hybrid vehicle’’ includes any electric or hybrid vehicle which can be used (A) for business or agricultural production purposes on farms (e.g. tractors and trucks) or in rural areas, or (B) for com- mercial purposes in urban areas; (4) ‘‘electric vehicle’’ means a vehicle which is powered by an electric motor drawing cur- rent from rechargeable storage batteries, fuel cells, or other portable sources of electrical current, and which may include a nonelec- trical source of power designed to charge bat- teries and components thereof; (5) ‘‘hybrid vehicle’’ means a vehicle pro- pelled by a combination of an electric motor and an internal combustion engine or other power source and components thereof; (6) ‘‘project’’ means the Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Research, Development, and Dem- onstration Project established under section 2503(a) of this title; (7) Omitted. (8) ‘‘small business concern’’ shall have the meaning prescribed by the Secretary of En- ergy after consultation with the Small Busi- ness Administration. (Pub. L. 94–413, § 3, Sept. 17, 1976, 90 Stat. 1261; Pub. L. 95–91, title III, § 301(a), Aug. 4, 1977, 91 Stat. 577.) Editorial Notes CODIFICATION Par. (1), which read ‘‘ ‘Administrator’ means the Ad- ministrator of the Energy Research and Development Administration’’, has been omitted from the Code in view of the termination of the Energy Research and De- velopment Administration and the transfer of the func- tions of the Administration and the Administrator thereof to the Secretary of Energy pursuant to sections 301(a) and 703 of Pub. L. 95–91 which are classified to sections 7151(a) and 7293 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. ‘‘Secretary of Energy’’ has been sub-