[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 5 (Monday, January 26, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S252]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DeWINE:
  S. 2028. A bill to improve tire safety and labeling, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  Mr. DeWINE. 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. 2028

       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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