[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 39 (Thursday, March 22, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S2732]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. NICKLES:
  S. 594. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to simplify 
the excise tax on heavy truck tires; to the Committee on Finance.
  Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 594

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

     SECTION 1. SIMPLIFICATION OF EXCISE TAX ON HEAVY TRUCK TIRES.

       (a) Tax Based on Tire Load Capacity Not on Weight.--
     Subsection (a) of section 4071 of the Internal Revenue Code 
     of 1986 (relating to imposition of tax on tires) is amended 
     to read as follows:
       ``(a) Imposition and Rate of Tax.--There is hereby imposed 
     on tires of the type used on highway vehicles, if wholly or 
     in part made of rubber, sold by the manufacturer, producer, 
     or importer a tax equal to 8 cents for each 10 pounds of the 
     tire load capacity in excess of 3500 pounds.''.
       (b) Tire Load Capacity.--Subsection (c) of section 4071 of 
     the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as 
     follows:
       ``(c) Tire Load Capacity.--For purposes of this section, 
     tire load capacity is the maximum load rating labeled on the 
     tire pursuant to section 571.109 or 571.119 of title 49, Code 
     of Federal Regulations. In the case of any tire that is 
     marked for both single and dual loads, the higher of the 2 
     shall be used for purposes of this section.''.
       (c) Tires to Which Tax Applies.--Subsection (b) of section 
     4072 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (defining tires of 
     the type used on highway vehicles) is amended by striking 
     ``tires of the type'' the second place it appears and all 
     that follows and inserting ``tires--
       ``(1) of the type used on--
       ``(A) motor vehicles which are highway vehicles, or
       ``(B) vehicles of the type used in connection with motor 
     vehicles which are highway vehicles, and
       ``(2) marked for highway use pursuant to section 571.109 or 
     571.119 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations.''.
       (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall take effect on January 1 of the first calendar year 
     which begins more than 30 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act.
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