To decrease the United States dependence on imported oil by the year 2015.

June 3, 2003

Mr. SPECTER introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

To decrease the United States dependence on imported oil by the year 2015.

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

SECTION 1. INCREASED FUEL ECONOMY STANDARDS TO REDUCE OIL CONSUMPTION.

(a) REQUIREMENT FOR NEW REGULATIONS-

(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary of Transportation shall issue, under section 32902 of title 49, United States Code, new regulations setting forth increased average fuel economy standards for automobiles that are determined on the basis of the maximum feasible average fuel economy levels for the automobiles, taking into consideration the matters set forth in subsection (f) of such section.

(2) TIME FOR ISSUING REGULATIONS-

(A) NON-PASSENGER AUTOMOBILES- For non-passenger automobiles, the Secretary of Transportation shall issue the final regulations not later than 15 months after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(B) PASSENGER AUTOMOBILES- For passenger automobiles, the Secretary of Transportation shall issue--

(i) the proposed regulations not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act; and

(ii) the final regulations not later than 2 years after that date.

(b) PHASED INCREASES- The regulations issued pursuant to subsection (a) shall specify standards that take effect successively over several vehicle model years not exceeding 15 vehicle model years.

(c) CLARIFICATION OF AUTHORITY TO AMEND PASSENGER AUTOMOBILE STANDARD- Section 32902(b) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting before the period at the end the following: `or such other number as the Secretary prescribes under subsection (c)'.

(d) OIL SAVINGS-

(1) IN GENERAL- The new regulations required by this section shall include regulations that apply to passenger and non-passenger automobiles manufactured after model year 2006 and are designed to result in a reduction in the amount of oil (including oil refined into gasoline) used by automobiles of at least 1,000,000 barrels per day by 2015.

(2) CALCULATION OF REDUCTION- To determine the amount of the reduction in oil used by passenger and non-passenger automobiles, the Secretary of Transportation shall make calculations based on the number of barrels of oil projected by the Energy Information Administration of the Department of Energy in table A7 of the report entitled `Annual Energy Outlook 2002' (report no. DOE/EIA-0383(2002)) to be consumed by light-duty vehicles in 2015 without the regulations required by paragraph (1).

(3) CONSIDERATION OF ALTERNATIVE FUEL TECHNOLOGIES- The Secretary of Transportation shall consult with the Secretary of Energy to identify alternative fuel technologies that could be utilized in the transportation sector to reduce dependence on crude-oil-derived fuels. The Secretary of Transportation shall take those technologies into consideration in prescribing the regulations under this section.

(e) REPORTS TO CONGRESS-

(1) REPORTS REQUIRED- Beginning in 2007, the Secretary of Transportation shall, after consulting with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, submit to Congress in January of every odd-numbered year through 2015 a report on the implementation of the requirements of this section.

(2) CONTENT- The report required by paragraph (1) shall explain and assess the progress made toward reducing oil consumption by automobiles as required by subsection (d).

(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There is authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Transportation for fiscal year 2004, to remain available until expended, $2,000,000 to carry out this section.

END