S. 2193Senate116th Congress (2019-2021)Enacted

CHARGE Act

Introduced July 18, 2019

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 7:19 AM UTC

The CHARGE Act directs the General Services Administration to clarify that federal agencies may use charge cards to pay for electricity used to charge their electric passenger vehicles. It also requires the GSA to issue a charge card for each agency‑owned electric vehicle, enabling employees to pay for charging at commercial stations. The bill mainly affects federal agencies that operate electric vehicles and the employees who use them.

Key Provisions

  • Within 180 days of the law’s enactment, the GSA Administrator must issue guidance confirming that federal agencies can use charge cards to pay for charging their electric motor vehicles at commercial charging stations.
  • The guidance must be based on existing law (31 U.S.C. § 1344) that allows agencies to charge such expenses to a charge card.
  • Also within 180 days, the Administrator must provide each federal agency with a charge card for each of its electric passenger vehicles, so agency staff can pay for charging directly.

Legislative Activity

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19 earlier actions
Became Law Latest Action

Became Public Law No: 116-160.

October 1, 2020

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

July 18, 2019

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

July 18, 2019

SenateCommittee

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.

July 24, 2019

SenateCommittee

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with amendments. With written report No. 116-95.

September 10, 2019

SenateCalendars

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 199.

September 10, 2019

SenateFloor

Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6764; text: CR S6764)

November 21, 2019

SenateFloor

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

November 25, 2019

HouseFloor

Received in the House.

November 26, 2019 • 2:02 PM

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.

November 26, 2019

HouseFloor

Mrs. Maloney, Carolyn B. moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

September 14, 2020 • 2:58 PM

HouseFloor

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4350-4351)

September 14, 2020 • 2:58 PM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 2193.

September 14, 2020 • 2:58 PM

HouseFloor

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

September 14, 2020 • 3:04 PM

HouseFloor

Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4370-4371)

September 14, 2020 • 7:29 PM

SenateFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 403 - 2 (Roll no. 184).

September 14, 2020 • 8:05 PM

HouseFloor

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 403 - 2 (Roll no. 184). (text: CR H4350)

September 14, 2020 • 8:05 PM

HouseFloor

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

September 14, 2020 • 8:05 PM

President

Presented to President.

September 21, 2020

Became Law

Signed by President.

October 1, 2020

Became Law

Became Public Law No: 116-160.

October 1, 2020

Bill Text

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Enrolled BillPublication date not provided

One Hundred Sixteenth Congress of the United States of America

2d Session

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Friday, the third day of January, two thousand and twenty

S. 2193

AN ACT

To require the Administrator of General Services to issue guidance to clarify that Federal agencies may pay by charge card for the charging of Federal electric motor vehicles, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Charging Helps Agencies Realize General Efficiencies Act or the CHARGE Act.

2.

Payment by charge card for charging Federal electric motor vehicles

(a)

Definitions

In this Act—

(1)

the term Administrator means the Administrator of General Services;

(2)

the term charge card—

(A)

means a card, plate, coupon book, or other means existing for the purpose of obtaining money, property, labor, or services; and

(B)

includes—

(i)

a card issued under the GSA SmartPay program; and

(ii)

a Fleet Services card;

(3)

the term covered electric motor vehicle means a passenger carrier that is—

(A)

a passenger motor vehicle; and

(B)

an electric motor vehicle;

(4)

the term electric motor vehicle has the meaning given the term in section 601 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 13271);

(5)

the term electric motor vehicle charging station means a battery-charging station that permits the transfer of electric energy (by conductive or inductive means) to a battery or other storage device in an electric motor vehicle; and

(6)

the terms Federal agency and passenger carrier have the meanings given those terms in section 1344(h) of title 31, United States Code.

(b)

Guidance

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall issue guidance to clarify that each Federal agency may, in accordance with section 1344 of title 31, United States Code—

(1)

charge a covered electric motor vehicle at a commercial electric motor vehicle charging station; and

(2)

pay for a transaction described in paragraph (1) with a charge card.

(c)

Issuance of charge cards

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall issue to each Federal agency a charge card for each covered electric motor vehicle of the Federal agency that may be used by an officer or employee of the Federal agency to pay for charging the covered motor vehicle in accordance with the guidance issued under subsection (b).

Speaker of the House of Representatives

Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate