(a) Definitions In this section:
(1) Advanced technology vehicle The term advanced technology vehicle means a light duty vehicle that meets
(A) the Bin 5 Tier II emission standard established in regulations issued by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency under section 202(i) of the Clean Air Act (
42 U.S.C.
7521 (i)), or a lower-numbered Bin emission standard;
(B) any new emission standard in effect for fine particulate matter prescribed by the Administrator under that Act (
42 U.S.C.
7401 et seq.); and
(C) at least 125 percent of the average base year combined fuel economy for vehicles with substantially similar attributes.
(2) Combined fuel economy The term combined fuel economy means
(A) the combined city/highway miles per gallon values, as reported in accordance with section
32904 of title
49; and
(B) in the case of an electric drive vehicle with the ability to recharge from an off-board source, the reported mileage, as determined in a manner consistent with the Society of Automotive Engineers recommended practice for that configuration or a similar practice recommended by the Secretary.
(3) Engineering integration costs The term engineering integration costs includes the cost of engineering tasks relating to
(A) incorporating qualifying components into the design of advanced technology vehicles; and
(B) designing tooling and equipment and developing manufacturing processes and material suppliers for production facilities that produce qualifying components or advanced technology vehicles.
(4) Qualifying components The term qualifying components means components that the Secretary determines to be
(A) designed for advanced technology vehicles; and
(B) installed for the purpose of meeting the performance requirements of advanced technology vehicles.
(b) Advanced vehicles manufacturing facility The Secretary shall provide facility funding awards under this section to automobile manufacturers and component suppliers to pay not more than 30 percent of the cost of
(1) reequipping, expanding, or establishing a manufacturing facility in the United States to produce
(A) qualifying advanced technology vehicles; or
(B) qualifying components; and
(2) engineering integration performed in the United States of qualifying vehicles and qualifying components.
(c) Period of availability An award under subsection (b) shall apply to
(1) facilities and equipment placed in service before December 30, 2020; and
(2) engineering integration costs incurred during the period beginning on December 19, 2007, and ending on December 30, 2020.
(d) Direct loan program
(1) In general
Not later than 1 year after December 19, 2007, and subject to the availability of appropriated funds, the Secretary shall carry out a program to provide a total of not more than $25,000,000,000 in loans to eligible individuals and entities (as determined by the Secretary) for the costs of activities described in subsection (b).
(2) Application An applicant for a loan under this subsection shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including a written assurance that
(A) all laborers and mechanics employed by contractors or subcontractors during construction, alteration, or repair that is financed, in whole or in part, by a loan under this section shall be paid wages at rates not less than those prevailing on similar construction in the locality, as determined by the Secretary of Labor in accordance with sections
3141–3144,
3146, and
3147 of title
40; and
(B) the Secretary of Labor shall, with respect to the labor standards described in this paragraph, have the authority and functions set forth in Reorganization Plan Numbered 14 of 1950 (5 U.S.C. App.) and section
3145 of title
40.
(3) Selection of eligible projects The Secretary shall select eligible projects to receive loans under this subsection in cases in which, as determined by the Secretary, the award recipient
(A) is financially viable without the receipt of additional Federal funding associated with the proposed project;
(B) will provide sufficient information to the Secretary for the Secretary to ensure that the qualified investment is expended efficiently and effectively; and
(C) has met such other criteria as may be established and published by the Secretary.
(4) Rates, terms, and repayment of loans A loan provided under this subsection
(A) shall have an interest rate that, as of the date on which the loan is made, is equal to the cost of funds to the Department of the Treasury for obligations of comparable maturity;
(B) shall have a term equal to the lesser of
(i) the projected life, in years, of the eligible project to be carried out using funds from the loan, as determined by the Secretary; and
(ii) 25 years;
(C) may be subject to a deferral in repayment for not more than 5 years after the date on which the eligible project carried out using funds from the loan first begins operations, as determined by the Secretary; and
(D) shall be made by the Federal Financing Bank.
(e) Improvement
The Secretary shall issue regulations that require that, in order for an automobile manufacturer to be eligible for an award or loan under this section during a particular year, the adjusted average fuel economy of the manufacturer for light duty vehicles produced by the manufacturer during the most recent year for which data are available shall be not less than the average fuel economy for all light duty vehicles of the manufacturer for model year 2005. In order to determine fuel economy baselines for eligibility of a new manufacturer or a manufacturer that has not produced previously produced equivalent vehicles, the Secretary may substitute industry averages.
(f) Fees
Administrative costs shall be no more than $100,000 or 10 basis point of the loan.
(g) Priority
The Secretary shall, in making awards or loans to those manufacturers that have existing facilities, give priority to those facilities that are oldest or have been in existence for at least 20 years. Such facilities can currently be sitting idle.
(h) Set aside for small automobile manufacturers and component suppliers
(1) Definition of covered firm In this subsection, the term covered firm means a firm that
(A) employs less than 500 individuals; and
(B) manufactures automobiles or components of automobiles.
(2) Set aside
Of the amount of funds that are used to provide awards for each fiscal year under subsection (b), the Secretary shall use not less than 10 percent to provide awards to covered firms or consortia led by a covered firm.
(i) Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012.
