[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2614 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2614

  To amend title 49, United States Code, to improve highway safety by 
  requiring reductions in the aggressivity of light trucks; to extend 
average fuel economy standards to all light trucks up to 10,000 pounds 
 gross vehicle weight; to require phased increases in the average fuel 
   economy standards for passenger automobiles and light trucks; to 
    improve the accuracy of average fuel economy testing and public 
  information regarding average fuel economy; and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 24, 2001

 Mr. George Miller of California (for himself, Ms. Eshoo, Mr. Nadler, 
   Mr. Sanders, Mr. Schiff, Ms. Pelosi, Mr. McDermott, Ms. Lee, Mr. 
 Blagojevich, Mr. Filner, Mr. Holt, Mr. Hinchey, Mr. Tierney, and Ms. 
   Woolsey) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
 Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on 
  Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently 
   determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
      provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee
                               concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend title 49, United States Code, to improve highway safety by 
  requiring reductions in the aggressivity of light trucks; to extend 
average fuel economy standards to all light trucks up to 10,000 pounds 
 gross vehicle weight; to require phased increases in the average fuel 
   economy standards for passenger automobiles and light trucks; to 
    improve the accuracy of average fuel economy testing and public 
  information regarding average fuel economy; and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Safety and Fuel Economy (SAFE) 
Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds and declares the following:
            (1) Automobile fuel economy standards have played an 
        important role in mitigating the increased consumption of 
        gasoline and have resulted in lower fuel costs to consumers.
            (2) Such standards and the successful response of 
        automobile manufacturers to those standards have been very 
        effective in increasing automobile fuel efficiency, resulting 
        in a near doubling of the passenger automobile fleet fuel 
        economy between 1975 and the present.
            (3) In recent years, the average automobile fuel economy of 
        the fleets of many automobile manufacturers has actually 
        declined, while the size and horsepower of the fleets have 
        increased. Overall, automobile and light truck average fuel 
        economy in 2000 was at its lowest in 20 years.
            (4) Several Government studies agree that increased fuel 
        efficiency is possible utilizing currently available technology 
        and without significant changes in the size, mix, or 
        performance of the fleet of automobiles. In addition, the 
        safety of the current fleet of automobiles can be maintained 
        and potentially improved through improved safety features.
            (5) With appropriate lead time, and by utilizing technology 
        currently in production, passenger automobile average fuel 
        economy of between 38 and 45 miles per gallon has been 
        estimated by various experts to be feasible without significant 
        changes in automobile size or performance. When technology 
        currently in development becomes available, even higher levels 
        of average fuel economy are possible.
            (6) Improved automobile average fuel economy standards can 
        reduce carbon dioxide emissions, improve air quality, and 
        potentially mitigate against global warming.

SEC. 3. IMPROVING CRASH SAFETY OF AUTOMOBILES AND LIGHT TRUCKS IN 
              COLLISIONS.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 301 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 30128. Crash safety of automobiles and light trucks in 
              collisions
    ``(a) Motor Vehicle Safety Standard.--
            ``(1) Notice of proposed rulemaking.--Not later than June 
        1, 2002, the Secretary of Transportation shall issue a notice 
        of proposed rulemaking to prescribe a new Federal motor vehicle 
        safety standard to improve the crash safety of automobiles and 
        light trucks in collisions.
            ``(2) CRAGG index.--The new standard prescribed under this 
        subsection shall include a Crash Aggressivity index (in this 
        section referred to as a `CRAGG index') that--
                    ``(A) measures the aggressivity of a motor vehicle;
                    ``(B) takes into account the stiffness, structure 
                height, and mass of a vehicle; and
                    ``(C) substantially improves the present crash 
                safety of automobiles and light trucks by reducing the 
                aggressivity of such vehicles.
            ``(3) Final rule.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
        law, the Secretary shall complete a rulemaking to prescribe 
        such a standard by issuing, not later than June 1, 2003, a 
        final rule with any provision the Secretary considers 
        appropriate, consistent with this subsection and the 
        requirements of section 30111 of title 49, United States Code.
            ``(4) Effective date.--The Secretary shall specify in the 
        final rule issued under this subsection that the rule--
                    ``(A) shall become effective in phases as rapidly 
                as practicable, beginning September 1, 2005; and
                    ``(B) shall be fully effective for all vehicles 
                identified in section 30127(b) of title 49, United 
                States Code, that are manufactured on and after 
                September 1, 2009.
    ``(b) Disclosure of CRAGG Index Ratings to Purchasers.--
            ``(1) Disclosure by manufacturers.--The Secretary of 
        Transportation shall issue regulations that require that motor 
        vehicle manufacturers--
                    ``(A) report CRAGG index ratings for each model 
                year after model year 2005;
                    ``(B) submit the first such report by no later than 
                August 1, 2005, and submit such reports by August 1 of 
                each year thereafter; and
                    ``(C) conspicuously post on each new motor vehicle 
                at the point of sale the CRAGG index rating for the 
                vehicle, beginning September 1, 2005.
            ``(2) Disclosure by secretary.--The Secretary shall also 
        post on the Department of Transportation's Internet website, 
        beginning September 1, 2005--
                    ``(A) comparative CRAGG index ratings, by make and 
                model; and
                    ``(B) an identification of the 10 motor vehicles 
                with the greatest aggressivity, by CRAGG index rating, 
                each year.
    ``(c) Annual Report.--The Secretary of Transportation shall 
annually report to the Congress on January 1 of each year beginning in 
2004 on the progress made in improving the crash safety of automobiles 
and light trucks in collisions. Such report shall address the 
comparative improvement in the aggressivity of new vehicles as measured 
by the CRAGG index and the number of fatalities caused by the 
aggressivity of light trucks and sport utility vehicles in collisions 
with other vehicles.
    ``(d) Revision of Standard.--On September 1, 2007, the Secretary of 
Transportation shall issue an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking to 
determine if substantial improvement has been made in the crash safety 
of automobiles and light trucks that are subject to the Federal motor 
vehicle safety standard prescribed under subsection (a). If substantial 
improvement has not been made, the Secretary shall issue a notice of 
proposed rulemaking by March 1, 2008, to revise such standard to 
further increase crash comparability. If initiated, the Secretary shall 
complete the rulemaking required by this subsection by issuing a new 
final rule not later than March 1, 2009. The Secretary shall specify in 
the rule that the rule shall become effective in phases as rapidly as 
practicable, beginning September 1, 2010. The rule shall become fully 
effective for all vehicles identified in section 30127(b), title 49, 
United States Code, that are manufactured on and after September 1, 
2012.
    ``(e) Phased-In Requirements.--
            ``(1) In general.--If the Secretary of Transportation fails 
        to meet any of the deadlines in subsections (a) through (d) of 
        this section with respect to any motor vehicle, motor vehicles 
        with respect to which such deadline applied having a gross 
        vehicle weight rating less than 10,000 pounds that are 
        manufactured by each manufacturer must satisfy the requirements 
        described in paragraph (2) in accordance with the following 
        phase-in schedule:
                    ``(A) 20 percent of such vehicles manufactured by a 
                manufacturer in the first year after the date the 
                deadline is not met must satisfy such requirements.
                    ``(B) 40 percent of such vehicles manufactured by a 
                manufacturer in the second year after the date the 
                deadline is not met must satisfy such requirements.
                    ``(C) 60 percent of such vehicles manufactured by a 
                manufacturer in the third year after the date the 
                deadline is not met must satisfy such requirements.
                    ``(D) 80 percent of such vehicles manufactured by a 
                manufacturer in the fourth year after deadline is not 
                met must satisfy such requirements.
                    ``(E) All such vehicles manufactured by a 
                manufacturer after the fourth year after the date the 
                deadline is not met must satisfy such requirements.
            ``(2) Requirements.--The requirements referred to in 
        paragraph (1) are the following, in the frontal barrier crash 
        test defined in section 571.208 S5.1 of title 49, Code of 
        Federal Regulations, conducted with a load cell barrier:
                    ``(A) The height of the center of force as 
                determined by a 30 mile per hour crash into a load cell 
                barrier shall not be greater than 22 inches (55 
                centimeters).
                    ``(B) For any vehicle with a curb weight greater 
                than 3,500 pounds, the dynamic stiffness shall not be 
                greater than the number determined by multiplying--
                            ``(i) 50,000 pounds; by
                            ``(ii) the number determined by dividing--
                                    ``(I) 33,000; by
                                    ``(II) the number determined by 
                                subtracting the weight of the vehicle 
                                (in pounds) from 20,000.
    ``(f) Advisory Committees.--The Secretary of Transportation shall 
ensure that--
            ``(1) any Federal advisory committee, task force, or other 
        entity concerned with vehicle compatibility includes a balance 
        of representatives from consumer and safety organizations, 
        insurers, manufacturers, and suppliers; and
            ``(2) such consumer and safety organization representatives 
        are selected from among organizations that do not receive any 
        significant funding from motor vehicle manufacturers and their 
        affiliates.
    ``(g) Definitions.--
            ``(1) Automobile; light truck.--Each of the terms 
        `automobile' and `light truck' has the meaning set forth in 
        section 32901 of this title.
            ``(2) Aggressivity.--The term `aggressivity' means the 
        degree to which the front of a motor vehicle, in a collision 
        with another motor vehicle--
                    ``(A) inflicts damage to the other motor vehicle; 
                and
                    ``(B) causes injury to the occupants of the other 
                motor vehicle.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 301 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 30127 the following:

``30128. Crash safety of automobiles and light trucks in collisions.''.

SEC. 4. INCREASED AVERAGE FUEL ECONOMY STANDARDS FOR PASSENGER 
              AUTOMOBILES AND LIGHT TRUCKS.

    (a) Increased Standards.--Section 32902 of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking ``Non-Passenger Automobiles.--'' 
                and inserting ``Prescription of Standards by 
                Regulation.--''; and
                    (B) by striking ``(except passenger automobiles)'' 
                and inserting ``(except passenger automobiles and light 
                trucks)''; and
            (2) by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
    ``(b) Standards for Passenger Automobiles and Light Trucks.--
            ``(1) Passenger automobiles, generally.--The average fuel 
        economy standard for passenger automobiles manufactured by a 
        manufacturer--
                    ``(A) after model year 2003 shall be 30.0 miles per 
                gallon; and
                    ``(B) after model year 2005 shall be 32.5 miles per 
                gallon.
            ``(2) Light trucks.--The average fuel economy standard for 
        light trucks manufactured by a manufacturer--
                    ``(A) after model year 2003 shall be 23.0 miles per 
                gallon; and
                    ``(B) after model year 2005 shall be 25.5 miles per 
                gallon.
            ``(3) Combined standard.--The average fuel economy standard 
        for the combination of passenger automobiles and light trucks 
        manufactured by a manufacturer--
                    ``(A) after model year 2007 shall be 32.0 miles per 
                gallon;
                    ``(B) after model year 2009 shall be 36.0 miles per 
                gallon; and
                    ``(C) after model year 2011 shall be 40.0 miles per 
                gallon.''.
    (b) Definition of Light Truck.--
            (1) In general.--Section 32901(a) of title 49, United 
        States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(17) `light truck' means an automobile that the Secretary 
        decides by regulation--
                    ``(A) is manufactured primarily for transporting 
                not more than 10 individuals;
                    ``(B) is rated at not more than 8,500 pounds gross 
                vehicle weight; and
                    ``(C) is not a passenger automobile.''.
            (2) Deadline for regulations.--The Secretary of 
        Transportation--
                    (A) shall issue proposed regulations implementing 
                the amendment made by this subsection by not later than 
                6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act; 
                and
                    (B) shall issue final regulations implementing such 
                amendment by not later than one year after the date of 
                the enactment of this Act.
    (c) Conforming Amendments.--(1) Section 32902(c) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended--
            (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``the standard'' and 
        inserting ``a standard''; and
            (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``increases the standard 
        above 27.5 miles per gallon, or decreases the standard below 
        26.0 miles per gallon,'' and inserting ``increases the standard 
        above the standard that would otherwise apply under subsection 
        (b), or decreases the standard by more than 1.5 miles per 
        gallon below the standard that would otherwise apply under 
        subsection (b),''.
    (d) Application.--The amendments made by this section shall apply 
beginning on January 1, 2006.
    (e) Applicability of Existing Standards.--This section does not 
affect the application of section 32902 of title 49, United States 
Code, to passenger automobiles and light trucks manufactured before 
model year 2007.

SEC. 5. FUEL ECONOMY STANDARDS FOR AUTOMOBILES UP TO 10,000 POUNDS 
              GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT.

    (a) Vehicles Defined as Automobiles.--Section 32901(a)(3) of title 
49, United States Code, is amended by striking ``6,000'' each place it 
appears and inserting ``8,500''.
    (b) Application Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
apply beginning on January 1, 2006.

SEC. 6. IMPROVEMENT OF CALCULATION OF AVERAGE FUEL ECONOMY.

    (a) In General.--Section 32904(a) of title 49, United States Code, 
is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(1)'' before the first sentence;
            (2) in paragraph (1) (as so designated), in the second 
        sentence by inserting ``and subject to paragraph (2) of this 
        subsection,'' after ``of this title,''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(2) Calculations and testing procedures prescribed by the 
Secretary under paragraph (1) shall ensure that average fuel economy 
calculated under this subsection--
            ``(A) reflects, and is determined under conditions that 
        include, actual driving conditions; and
            ``(B) is not an optimized number that results solely from 
        tests performed under laboratory conditions.''.
    (b) Application.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply 
with respect to automobiles manufactured after model year 2005.
    (c) Regulations.--The Administrator of the Environmental Protection 
Agency shall issue regulations that implement the amendments made by 
subsection (a) by not later than December 31, 2002.
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