109 HR 5359 IH: To amend the automobile fuel economy provisions of title U.S. House of Representatives 2006-05-11 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I 109th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5359 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 11, 2006 Mr. Barton of Texas introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To amend the automobile fuel economy provisions of title 49, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Transportation to set fuel economy standards for passenger automobiles based on one or more vehicle attributes.

1.

CAFE standards for passenger automobiles

(a)

Average fuel economy standards for passenger automobiles

Section 32902 of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1)by amending subsection (c) to read as follows: (c)

Amending passenger automobile standards

(1)

regulations

The Secretary of Transportation may prescribe regulations amending the standard under subsection (b) of this section for a model year. If the Secretary does not prescribe regulations under this subsection for a given model year, the standard in effect for the preceding model year shall apply to such model year and each model year thereafter. (2)

maximum feasible average fuel economy

The standard prescribed under this subsection shall be the maximum feasible average fuel economy level that the Secretary decides the manufacturers can achieve in that model year. In amending such standard for a model year, the Secretary, consistent with the Secretary’s authority under this section for prescribing standards, may establish a standard based on one or more vehicle attributes related to fuel economy. ; and (2)in subsection (g)(2), by striking (and submit the amendment to Congress when required under subsection (c)(2) of this section). (b)

Effective date

The amendments made by subsection (a) shall be effective on the date of enactment of this Act. The Secretary of Transportation shall prescribe regulations under section 32902(c) of title 49, United States Code, not later than December 30, 2008. Such regulations shall take into consideration standard automobile industry design and production processes. (c)

Study of requirement of separate calculations for domestic and foreign fleets

(1)

Study

The Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shall conduct a study on the requirement of separate fuel economy calculations for automobiles manufactured domestically and not domestically contained in section 32904(b) of title 49, United States Code. Such study shall— (A)assess the effects of such requirement on employment within the automobile industry in the United States; (B)assess the effects of such requirement on overall passenger automobile fuel economy; (C)determine the degree to which such requirement encourages manufacturers to alter their automobiles in order to meet automobile fuel efficiency standards for both domestic and foreign manufactured automobiles; (D)examine the effect of requirements of the North American Free Trade Agreement on the operation of such requirement; (E)determine whether such requirement has resulted in additional costs to automobile consumers; and (F)determine whether such requirement has promoted increased manufacturing of smaller, more fuel-efficient cars in the United States. (2)

Report

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shall transmit a report to Congress and to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency on the conclusions of the study.