[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 27 (Tuesday, March 12, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E322]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        FUEL PRICE STABILITY ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                    HON. F. JAMES SENSENBRENNER, JR.

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 12, 2002

  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing legislation to 
provide the States of Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana with added 
flexibility in meeting federal reformulated gasoline (RFG) 
requirements. The Fuel Price Stability Act will simply allow the 
Governors of each of the states in the Milwaukee-Chicago market to 
permit the sale of gasoline from other markets if the price of RFG in 
our area sees a significant rise or if supplies of RFG in our region 
are especially tight. Presently, only the EPA has the authority to 
grant any type of waiver from ``boutique'' fuel requirements. The Fuel 
Price Stability Act would change this by allowing our Governors to make 
needed short-term adjustments.
  Granting this new flexibility to local Governors has the potential to 
keep gas prices down in our area. In the past two years, when RFG 
prices in the Milwaukee-Chicago market skyrocketed, prices remained 
comparatively low in surrounding markets, including some of those on 
the same pipeline that supplies gasoline to our market. Should such an 
occurrence happen again, our Governors should have the authority to 
permit other gasoline types to be sold in the Milwaukee-Chicago region, 
thereby increasing potential supplies to our area.
  I strongly support other reforms in this area, including efforts to 
reduce the number of ``boutique'' fuels used across the country, but, 
lacking the implementation of a broader plan, this legislation 
represents a solid step toward greater flexibility in fuel use. I am 
hopeful my colleagues will support this legislation and the House will 
act on this proposal expeditiously.

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