LOL31 Jul 2015 19:52
President Barack Obama has signed into law a comprehensive highway funding bill, H.R.3236, whose many provisions include a measure meant to ensure that liquefied natural gas (LNG) and propane autogas are taxed fairly relative to diesel and gasoline, respectively. The law is especially considered a major victory for the natural gas vehicle industry, which has long pushed for a so-called "LNG fix."
The alt-fuel measure was originally included in a highway bill that passed the U.S. House of Representatives on July 15. However, following disputes between the House and U.S. Senate over several issues, the House passed H.R.3236 on Wednesday in order to provide a three-month extension of federal dollars for the national highway program - just days before a funding deadline. The Senate, which had sought longer-term highway legislation, passed its own six-year plan on Thursday but also approved H.R.3236 as a short-term fix. H.R.3236 extends highway and transportation funding through Oct. 29, setting the stage for lawmakers to renew their debate after returning from summer recess.
According to several reports, President Obama signed the legislation into law Friday, but he also admonished the legislators for not reaching a compromise and for passing yet another stopgap highway bill.
Regardless, NGVAmerica says the passage of H.R.3236 will permanently solidify the law’s alternative fuel measure, which will modify the federal highway excise taxes on LNG and autogas to be based on the fuels’ energy content, rather than on their volume.
A team of lawmakers, including U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., and Richard Burr, R-N.C., as well as U.S. Reps. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, and Todd Young, R-Ind., helped spearhead the inclusion of the tax fix.
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