Peters Bipartisan Bill to Save Taxpayer Dollars on Federal Vehicles Signed into Law

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A bipartisan bill led by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, was signed into law by the President. The new law will help save taxpayer dollars by updating policies to help federal agencies adopt electric vehicles, which are more energy efficient than traditional gas-powered vehicles. The Charging Helps Agencies Realize General Efficiencies Act (CHARGE Act), which Peters championed through the Senate last year, directs the General Services Administration (GSA) to allow vehicle charge cards to be used to pay for electric vehicle recharging at commercially available charging stations.

“I am grateful that the President has signed my commonsense, bipartisan bill into law. It will help save taxpayer dollars in the long run by ensuring the federal government is ready to adopt more electric vehicles into its fleet,” said Senator Peters. “Electric vehicles have the potential to be more energy efficient and more cost-effective than gasoline-powered vehicles. I am thrilled the federal government can now take full advantage of electric vehicles that will save money for Michiganders and Americans across the country.”

“If federal employees are required to pay for gas with travel charge cards, they should also be allowed to ‘fill up’ at a charging station when operating an electric vehicle,” said Senator Portman (R-OH), who joined Peters in cosponsoring the CHARGE Act. “I'm proud that this bipartisan, common-sense bill was signed into law by President Trump so that federal agencies can adopt more energy-efficient electric vehicles.”

The GSA is responsible for Fleet Services Cards that federal agencies use to cover the costs of small-dollar repairs and refueling of government-owned and leased vehicles. Currently, electric vehicles are not covered in this service. This law will enable agencies that acquire electric vehicles to use the existing charge cards to pay for recharging, facilitating the federal government’s adoption of more efficient and affordable electric vehicle technology.

###