In committee
PART Act
This bill creates federal penalties of up to five years in prison for stealing, buying, or trafficking stolen catalytic converters. It requires automakers to stamp vehicle identification numbers onto catalytic converters on new cars and creates a $7 million grant program to help local shops and police stamp parts on existing vehicles for the public. In addition, scrap yards and repair businesses must record seller identification, keep transaction records for at least two years, and use traceable payment methods like checks rather than cash or cryptocurrency.
People affected—The bill text does not quantify the number of vehicle owners, auto businesses, or offenders affected.
Fiscal magnitude$7.0Mprovisional · pending reviewSec. 4(i) makes $7,000,000 in unobligated American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 funds available (or authorizes appropriations of the same amount) for catalytic converter marking grants.
Reach52provisional · pending reviewrigor: heuristic llm
What this bill touches.
Sentencing & corrections−30Regulation (cross-sector)+40
Who it helps · who it burdens.
Who it helps
- Law enforcement agencies, auto dealers, repair shops, fleet operators, and nonprofitsCan receive federal grants out of a $7 million program to purchase stamping equipment and theft-deterrence paint to mark catalytic converters for the public (Sec. 4(a)-(e)).
- Motor vehicle ownersGain access to catalytic converter die/pin stamping and theft-deterrent paint services made available to the public by grant recipients (Sec. 4(e)).
Who it burdens
- Auto salvage, recycling, dismantling, and repair businessesMust collect and keep records for at least two years of seller identification, contact information, and vehicle identification details for transactions involving parts containing precious metals (Sec. 5(b)).
- Buyers and sellers of catalytic convertersAre prohibited from using cash or cryptocurrency, must use traceable payment methods like checks or wire transfers, and cannot buy or sell converters with removed or tampered serial markings (Sec. 5(c)-(d)).
- Automobile manufacturers and dealersMust ensure catalytic converters on new, unsold vehicles are stamped or marked with full VINs or unique traceable part numbers before sale (Sec. 3(a)-(e)).
Who backs it
- American Rescue Plan Act unobligated balancesProvides $7 million from unobligated balances under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to finance the catalytic converter marking grant program (Sec. 4(i)(1)).
Who opposes it
- Individuals trafficking in or stealing catalytic convertersMakes stealing, knowingly receiving, possessing, or reselling stolen catalytic converters a federal crime punishable by fines and up to five years in prison, and expands the definition of illegal chop shops to cover precious metal extraction (Sec. 6(a)-(d)).