The House Passes the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)

On Thursday, the House passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by a vote of 300–119. The NDAA sets out the budget and program planning for the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD). If enacted, it will provide a funding authorization of $585 billion. The bill passed by the House contains non-defense related provisions, including at least one that is important to the NGV industry. Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK) and Carl Levin (D-MI) included an amendment during House and Senate negotiations that encourages the sale of NGVs by removing the current cap on fuel economy credits for dual-fuel NGVs, and by lowering the minimum driving range requirement for dual-fuel NGVs from 200 to 150 miles. The changes encourage OEMs to produce more NGVs without imposing any costs to taxpayers or the federal government. The basic background for this amendment was S. 2065. It now goes to the Senate where it has bipartisan support. NGVAmerica appreciates the effort from several of its members to get this measure enacted.