S.Amdt. 948

SA 948. Mr. COATS submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 2354, making appropriations for energy and water development and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2012, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

In title III, at the end of the sections under the heading “GENERAL PROVISIONS--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY”, add the following:

Sec. ___. (a) None of the funds made available by this Act to carry out the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program established under section 136 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17013) may be used by the Secretary to approve any loan for the design, manufacture, construction, or modification of any facility to produce advanced high-strength steel until the Inspector General completes and makes public the report described in subsection (b).

(b) The Inspector General shall--

(1) conduct an investigation of any conditional loan commitment issued by the Secretary for the design, manufacture, construction, or modification of any facility to produce advanced high-strength steel under the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program; and

(2) not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, prepare a report that describes the results of the investigation conducted under paragraph (1).

(c) The report prepared under in subsection (b)(2) shall address the following issues:

(1) Whether the Secretary properly considered advanced high strength steel a “component” under section 136 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17013).

(2) Whether the Secretary conducted a proper market analysis to determine what advanced high strength steel products were in the marketplace and in what volumes.

(3) Whether the Secretary estimated the current or future capacity for production of advanced high strength steel in the United States.

(4) Whether the Secretary estimated the future demand for advanced high strength steel from automakers.

(5) Whether it was proper for the Secretary to fund a nearly complete project for facilities already built.

(6) Whether the Secretary conducted a thorough jobs-impact analysis before issuing the conditional loan commitment, including an analysis of what jobs would be lost or redistributed from other companies that produce advanced high strength steel.

(7) Whether and to what extent the loan office was improperly influenced outside groups or the White House, including the Office of Management and Budget.