[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5632 Introduced in House (IH)]








109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5632

 To amend Chapter 301 of title 49, United States Code, to establish a 
  national tire fuel efficiency consumer information program, and for 
                            other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 16, 2006

  Mr. Shimkus (for himself, Mr. Engel, and Mr. Allen) introduced the 
   following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 
                                Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend Chapter 301 of title 49, United States Code, to establish a 
  national tire fuel efficiency consumer information program, 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. TIRE FUEL EFFICIENCY CONSUMER INFORMATION.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 301 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after section 30123 the following new section:
``Sec. 30123A. Tire Fuel Efficiency Consumer Information
    ``(a) Rulemaking.--(1) Not later than 18 months after the date of 
enactment of this section, the Secretary of Transportation shall, after 
notice and opportunity for comment, promulgate rules establishing a 
national tire fuel efficiency consumer information program for tires 
designed for use on motor vehicles to educate consumers about the 
effect of tires on automobile fuel efficiency.
    ``(2) Items Included in Rule.--The rulemaking shall include each of 
the following:
            ``(A) A national tire fuel efficiency rating system for 
        motor vehicle tires to assist consumers in making more educated 
        tire purchasing decisions.
            ``(B) Requirements for providing information to consumers, 
        including information at the point of sale and other potential 
        information dissemination methods, including the internet.
            ``(C) Specifications for test methods for manufacturers to 
        use in assessing and rating tires to avoid variation among test 
        equipment and manufacturers.
            ``(D) A national tire maintenance consumer education 
        program including, information on tire inflation pressure, 
        alignment, rotation, and tread wear to maximize fuel 
        efficiency.
    ``(3) Applicability.--This section shall not apply to tires 
excluded from coverage under section 575.104(c)(2) of title 49, Code of 
Federal Regulations, as in effect on date of enactment of this section.
    ``(b) Consultation.--The Secretary shall consult with the Secretary 
of Energy and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency 
on the means of conveying tire fuel efficiency consumer information.
    ``(c) Report to Congress.--The Secretary shall conduct periodic 
assessments of the rules promulgated under this section to determine 
the utility of such rules to consumers, the level of cooperation by 
industry, and the contribution to national goals pertaining to energy 
consumption. The Secretary shall transmit periodic reports detailing 
the findings of such assessments to the Energy and Commerce Committee 
of the House of Representatives and the Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation Committee of the Senate.
    ``(d) Tire Marking.--The Secretary shall not require permanent 
labeling of any kind on a tire for the purpose of tire fuel efficiency 
information.
    ``(e) Preemption.--When a requirement under this section is in 
effect, a State or political subdivision of a State may adopt or 
enforce a law or regulation on tire fuel efficiency consumer 
information only if the law or regulation is identical to that 
requirement. Nothing in this section shall be construed to preempt a 
State or political subdivision of a State from regulating the fuel 
efficiency of tires not otherwise preempted under this chapter.''.
    (b) Enforcement.--Section 30165(a) of such chapter is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) Section 30123a.--Any person who fails to comply with 
        the national tire fuel efficiency consumer information program 
        under section 30123A is liable to the United States Government 
        for a civil penalty of not more than $50,000 for each 
        violation.''.
    (c) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for chapter 301 of 
title 49 is amended by adding the following new item after the item 
relating to section 30123:

``30123A. Tire fuel efficiency consumer information.''.
                                 <all>