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S 1135 111th Congress Senate Transportation and Public Works Administrative law and regulatory procedures Department of Transportation Energy efficiency and conservation Fraud offenses and financial crimes Government information and archives Motor vehicles Transportation programs funding

Drive America Forward Act of 2009

Introduced: May 21, 2009 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 111th Congress ended
It never became law before the 111th Congress (2009–2010) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 21, 2009
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5841-5843)
May 21, 2009
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Drive America Forward Act of 2009 - Establishes in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) a Drive America Forward Program through which the Secretary of Transportation shall: (1) authorize the issuance of an electronic voucher to offset the purchase or lease price for a new fuel efficient automobile upon the surrender of an eligible trade-in vehicle to a participating dealer; (2) certify dealers for Program participation; (3) make electronic payments to them for vouchers they accept between March 30, 2009, and one year after Program implementing regulations are promulgated; (4) provide for the payment of rebates to qualifying persons; and (5) establish and provide for the enforcement of measures to prevent and penalize fraud under the Program.

Prescribes requirements, including combined fuel economy, for $3,500 and $4,500 vouchers to offset the purchase or lease price for a qualifying passenger automobile or truck.

Limits the number of vouchers to one per customer, including joint registered owners of a single eligible trade-in vehicle.

Requires a dealer to certify about each eligible trade-in vehicle that the dealer: (1) has not and will not sell, lease, exchange, or otherwise dispose of the vehicle for use as an automobile in the United States or in any other country; and (2) will transfer the vehicle to an entity that will ensure that the vehicle will be crushed or shredded within the Program period, and has not been, and will not be, sold, leased, exchanged, or otherwise disposed of for use as an automobile anywhere in the world.

Makes any person who purchased or leased a new fuel efficient vehicle after March 30, 2009, and before the enactment of this Act eligible for a cash rebate equivalent to the appropriate voucher amount.

Prescribes standards which any regulations issued by the Secretary for the Program must meet. Makes it unlawful for any person to knowingly violate this Act or any regulations issued under it, particularly by fraud. Prescribes civil penalties for any such violation.

Directs the Secretary to make Program information available on an Internet website and through other means.

What's happening now May 21, 2009

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5841-5843)

 Related & companion bills 8
  • HR 520 Related bill Accelerated Retirement of Inefficient Vehicles Act of 2009
  • HR 1550 Related bill Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save Act of 2009
  • HR 1606 Related bill New Automobile Voucher Act of 2009
  • HR 2640 Related bill Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save Act
  • HR 2751 Related bill FDA Food Safety Modernization Act
  • S 247 Related bill Accelerated Retirement of Inefficient Vehicles Act of 2009
  • S 1200 Related bill Short Term Accelerated Retirement of Inefficient Vehicles Act of 2009
  • S 1248 Related bill Green Transportation Efficiency Act of 2009
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 2
All 2 Democratic 2
D
Shaheen, Jeanne
New Hampshire · Jun 10, 2009
 D
Durbin, Richard J.
Illinois · May 21, 2009
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1135: Drive America Forward Act of 2009. 111th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-1135/
MLA
"S. 1135: Drive America Forward Act of 2009." 111th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-1135/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1135, 111th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-1135/.
Markdown link
[S. 1135: Drive America Forward Act of 2009](https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-1135/)
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