PART Act
- Bill Number
- S. 2238
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Transportation and Public Works
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-07-10: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-11T20:26:41Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The Preventing Auto Recycling Theft Act (PART Act) aims to reduce the theft of catalytic converters—devices in vehicle exhaust systems that contain valuable precious metals like platinum, palladium, and rhodium—by enhancing marking requirements, establishing tracking and sales rules, providing funding for anti-theft measures, and imposing new criminal penalties. It addresses rising thefts that harm vehicle owners and contribute to environmental issues from illegal recycling.
Key Provisions
- Definition of Catalytic Converter: Defines it as any exhaust system device that reduces emissions through catalytic action (e.g., oxidizing hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide), including diesel oxidation catalysts and particulate filters.
- Regulatory Updates by NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration): Within 180 days of enactment, NHTSA must revise federal motor vehicle theft prevention standards (49 CFR 541.5 and Part 543) to require marking catalytic converters with unique identifiers, even for vehicles normally exempt from such rules. This applies to new vehicles not yet sold to the first buyer, regardless of model year.
- Grant Program for Stamping: Establishes a $7 million program (funded from unobligated American Rescue Plan Act funds or new appropriations) to provide grants to eligible entities (e.g., law enforcement, auto dealers, repair shops, fleet owners, nonprofits) for stamping catalytic converters with vehicle identification numbers (VINs) or unique part IDs using durable, visible methods like die-stamping and high-heat paint. Grants prioritize high-theft areas and cover non-wage costs, with stamping done at no charge to vehicle owners. The Secretary of Transportation must issue procedures and submit annual reports to Congress on program outcomes, including theft statistics.
- Sales and Record-Keeping Requirements:
- Adds catalytic converters to the list of "major" vehicle parts under federal law (49 USC 33101), requiring sellers (e.g., salvage yards, recyclers) to record buyer/seller details, including government-issued ID and VIN or unique part ID, retained for at least 2 years.
- Prohibits selling or buying catalytic converters with removed or tampered markings.
- Mandates traceable payments (e.g., checks, wire transfers) for sales; cash or digital assets like cryptocurrency are banned.
- The Attorney General will issue enforcement regulations and penalties.
- Criminal Penalties:
- Creates a new federal offense (18 USC 671) for stealing or knowingly buying catalytic converters for resale or precious metal extraction in interstate/foreign commerce, punishable by up to 5 years in prison and fines (sentences run concurrently with related offenses).
- Amends trafficking laws (18 USC 2311, 2321) to include stolen catalytic converters, with similar 5-year penalties.
- Expands "chop shop" definitions (18 USC 2322) to cover operations extracting precious metals from stolen parts for resale.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Theft Prevention Standards: Expands 49 USC Chapter 331 and related regulations to mandate catalytic converter marking, overriding exemptions for low-theft vehicles and applying retroactively to unsold new vehicles.
- Record Retention: Introduces new requirements under 49 USC 33111 for sellers of precious metal-containing parts to collect and store identification and VIN data for 2 years, previously limited to other major parts.
- Payment Restrictions: Adds novel bans on cash/digital asset transactions for catalytic converters, not previously specified in federal vehicle part laws.
- Criminal Framework: Introduces specific federal crimes for catalytic converter theft and trafficking (18 USC 671, amendments to 2311, 2321, 2322), filling gaps in existing interstate commerce and chop shop statutes by explicitly targeting precious metals extraction.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: NHTSA and the Department of Transportation will face new rulemaking, grant administration, and reporting duties, potentially increasing workload but funded initially. The Attorney General's office will handle enforcement regulations. Law enforcement gains tools like accessible databases for tracing marked parts, aiding investigations.
- Citizens: Vehicle owners, especially in high-theft areas, may benefit from reduced theft risks through free stamping and easier recovery/prosecution of stolen parts. However, repair shops and sellers must comply with record-keeping and payment rules, possibly raising operational costs passed to consumers.
- International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though enhanced tracking of precious metals could indirectly affect global recycling markets by deterring illegal exports of stolen parts.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Vehicle Owners and Drivers: Primary beneficiaries through theft deterrence; hybrid/electric vehicle owners with catalytic converters are included.
- Auto Industry (Manufacturers, Dealers, Repair Shops): Must implement marking on new vehicles and participate in stamping grants; face compliance burdens but gain from reduced theft-related losses.
- Recyclers, Salvage Yards, and Sellers: Required to maintain records, use traceable payments, and avoid tampered parts; non-compliance risks penalties.
- Law Enforcement and Nonprofits: Eligible for grants to stamp vehicles and access databases, improving theft response in high-crime areas.
- Thieves and Black Market Operators: Face stricter federal penalties and tracing, potentially disrupting illegal precious metals trade.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens federal authority over vehicle parts under interstate commerce (49 USC Chapter 331, 18 USC Chapter 31), potentially increasing prosecutions but requiring clear regulations to avoid overreach on state/local theft laws. Unique part IDs and databases raise data privacy concerns, though focused on law enforcement access.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's commerce clause powers; no apparent First or Fourth Amendment issues, as requirements target commercial sales rather than individual ownership.
- Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (Democrat and Republican) signals broad support for addressing a localized crime wave (e.g., in urban areas). Annual reporting promotes accountability, but funding reliance on prior relief acts could spark debates on reallocation. May encourage similar state laws, harmonizing anti-theft efforts nationwide.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2025-07-10: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 2025-07-10: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Preventing Auto Recycling Theft Act — issued 2025-07-10 — PDF (17 pages)