[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 133 (Wednesday, September 29, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S7811]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. HUTCHISON (for herself and Mr. Cornyn):
  S. 3916. A bill to require the Consumer Product Safety Commission to 
study and report on the impact on consumers of permitting an increase 
in the amount of ethanol blended with gasoline for use in gasoline-
powered engines used in vehicles operated in interstate commerce, on 
public streets and roads, or offroad, appliances such as lawn mowers 
and other nonvehicular devices, and marine engines, and to require the 
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to study and report on 
any safety or reliability impact of such an increase on motor vehicle 
engines and fuel systems; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation.
  Mrs. HUTCHISON: Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation 
that will protect our nation's consumers from adverse impacts that 
could result from a potential government mandate to increase the 
current percentage of ethanol which is blended with gasoline. 
Significant questions and concerns exist as to the effects of 
increasing the current blend percentage of ethanol into gasoline above 
its current level of 10 percentage for motor vehicles, equipment and 
engines. If the United States Government is going to require an 
increase of the ethanol blend, I believe it is necessary to conduct 
extensive studies to ensure no Americans are injured or suffer any 
economic damages as a result of that decision.
  The legislation I am introducing today will require the Consumer 
Product Safety Commission to conduct a study of the potential impact 
consumers may face by increasing the amount of ethanol blended with 
gasoline or other petroleum products used for internal combustion 
engines. This study would examine how the higher blend would impact 
consumers in different regions of the country through interstate 
commerce, whether the cost increase is associated with the higher blend 
rate and most importantly, whether a higher blend of gasoline and 
ethanol poses danger to consumers' well being.
  Additionally, my legislation would require the National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration to conduct a study to determine whether 
the use of ethanol-gasoline blends of more than 10 percent will have an 
adverse impact on tailpipe emissions, exhaust temperatures, catalytic 
converters and motor engine performance.
  I believe it is irresponsible for the United States Government to 
require an untested mandate, such an increase in the percentage of 
ethanol mixed with gasoline, without all tests having been performed to 
guarantee there are no detrimental consequences on any American. It is 
common sense for all of the science to be revealed before such an 
important decision is made, and that is what my legislation will do.
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