[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2028 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2028

      To improve tire safety and labeling, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 26, 2004

  Mr. DeWine introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
   referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
      To improve tire safety and labeling, 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 ``Tire Safety Awareness Act of 2004''.

SEC. 2. DATE OF MANUFACTURE INFORMATION.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall, in 
consultation with the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic 
Safety Administration, undertake to modify the regulations relating to 
tire safety that are administered by the Administration through the 
promulgation of regulations that require that such date of manufacture 
information is disclosed clearly and understandably, in writing, to 
consumers at the point of sale on an invoice, sales receipt, or 
equivalent record.
    (b) Exception.--The date of manufacture information required to be 
disclosed pursuant to the regulations promulgated under subsection (a) 
shall not apply to tires that are--
            (1) sold with new motor vehicles;
            (2) exempt from testing under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety 
        Standard (FMVSS) 139; or
            (3) sold for use on vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of 
        10,001 pounds or more.

SEC. 3. REPORT ON TIRE SAFETY.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall enter into 
a cooperative agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to 
commission a report to Congress on the effects of age on light vehicle 
tires (within the meaning of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 
(FMVSS) 139), including--
            (1) a study of the effect on tire safety resulting from 
        tire aging characteristics, including but not limited to the 
        chemical breakdown and oxidation that occur over time with 
        respect to tires, irrespective of use;
            (2) recommendations on how to best communicate information, 
        including tire aging characteristics, to consumers, and an 
        assessment of the utility and benefits of this information with 
        respect to motor vehicle safety;
            (3) an examination of whether the imposition of limits on 
        the age of tires available for sale in interstate commerce 
        would enhance motor vehicle safety;
            (4) an examination of--
                    (A) currently available, scientifically proven 
                technologies that may assist consumers in assessing 
                tire age; and
                    (B) the feasibility of developing technologies in 
                the future that may assist consumers in assessing tire 
                age; and
            (5) any other information the Secretary determines 
        appropriate.
    (b) Consideration of Existing Resources.--The report shall take 
into consideration relevant scientific studies performed by the 
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the American Society 
for Testing and Materials Committee F09 on Tires.
    (c) Report Required.--The Secretary shall submit the report to 
Congress not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this 
Act.
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