Grant program for VIN stamping

(a) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall establish a program to provide grants to eligible entities to carry out covered activities, excluding wages, related to catalytic converters. (b) Application To be eligible for a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall submit an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (c) Eligible entities In this section, eligible entities are the following: (1) Law enforcement agencies. (2) Automobile dealers. (3) Owners and lessees of centrally maintained vehicle fleets. (4) Automobile repair shops and service centers. (5) Nonprofit organizations. (d) Covered activities Grant funds provided under this section may be used for equipment and materials necessary to carry out die or pin stamping of either the full vehicle identification number or a unique part identification number in a law enforcement accessible database that allows for the retrieval of the full vehicle identification number onto the outside of the catalytic converter in a conspicuous manner on motor vehicles. Such stamping shall be— (1) in a typed font and not handwritten; and (2) covered by applying a coat of high-visibility, high-heat theft deterrence paint. (e) Requirement In carrying out the program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall ensure that each recipient of a grant is able to provide die or pin stamping services described in subsection (d) to the public. (f) Prioritization In making grants under this section, the Secretary shall prioritize— (1) eligible entities operating in the areas with the highest need for die or pin stamping described in subsection (d), including the areas with the highest rates of catalytic converter theft; and (2) eligible entities that are in possession of motor vehicles that are subject to section 3(b). (g) Procedures for marking In carrying out the program established under subsection (a), the Secretary shall issue such regulations as are necessary to establish procedures to mark catalytic converters of vehicles most likely to be targeted for theft with unique identification numbers using a combination of die or pin stamping and high-visibility, high-heat theft deterrence paint without damaging the function of such converter. (h) Annual report Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for 10 years, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the program established under subsection (a) that includes a description of the progress, results, and any findings of the program, including the total number of catalytic converters marked under the program and, to the extent known, whether any catalytic converters marked under the program were stolen and the outcome of any criminal investigation into the threats. (i) Funding (1) Unobligated funding available Of the unobligated balances appropriated by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, $7,000,000 shall be made available to carry out this section. (2) Authorization of appropriations In the event that the total of $7,000,000 of the funds described under paragraph (1) may not be made available to carry out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section an amount equal to the remaining funding necessary to total $7,000,000. (j) Centrally maintained vehicle fleet defined In this section, the term centrally maintained vehicle fleet means a group of vehicles for which each aspect of management, including maintenance, repair, fuel management, and vehicle acquisition, is overseen and controlled by a single entity.