I 

109TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 5632 

To amend Chapter 301 of title 49, United States Code, to establish a 

national tire fuel efficiency consumer information program, and for other 

purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 16, 2006 

Mr. SHIMKUS (for himself, Mr. ENGEL, and Mr. ALLEN) introduced the 

following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

A BILL 

To amend Chapter 301 of title 49, United States Code, 

to establish a national tire fuel efficiency consumer information program, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. TIRE FUEL EFFICIENCY CONSUMER INFORMA4 TION. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 301 of title 49, United 

6 States Code, is amended by inserting after section 30123 

7 the following new section: 
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1 ‘‘§ 30123A. Tire Fuel Efficiency Consumer Informa2 tion 

3 ‘‘(a) RULEMAKING.—(1) Not later than 18 months 

4 after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary 

5 of Transportation shall, after notice and opportunity for 

6 comment, promulgate rules establishing a national tire 

7 fuel efficiency consumer information program for tires de8 signed for use on motor vehicles to educate consumers 

9 about the effect of tires on automobile fuel efficiency. 

10 ‘‘(2) ITEMS INCLUDED IN RULE.—The rulemaking 

11 shall include each of the following: 

12 ‘‘(A) A national tire fuel efficiency rating sys13 tem for motor vehicle tires to assist consumers in 

14 making more educated tire purchasing decisions. 

15 ‘‘(B) Requirements for providing information to 

16 consumers, including information at the point of sale 

17 and other potential information dissemination meth18 ods, including the internet. 

19 ‘‘(C) Specifications for test methods for manu20 facturers to use in assessing and rating tires to 

21 avoid variation among test equipment and manufac22 turers. 

23 ‘‘(D) A national tire maintenance consumer 

24 education program including, information on tire in25 flation pressure, alignment, rotation, and tread wear 

26 to maximize fuel efficiency. 
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1 ‘‘(3) APPLICABILITY.—This section shall not apply to 

2 tires excluded from coverage under section 575.104(c)(2) 

3 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on 

4 date of enactment of this section. 

5 ‘‘(b) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall consult 

6 with the Secretary of Energy and the Administrator of 

7 the Environmental Protection Agency on the means of 

8 conveying tire fuel efficiency consumer information. 

9 ‘‘(c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—The Secretary shall 

10 conduct periodic assessments of the rules promulgated 

11 under this section to determine the utility of such rules 

12 to consumers, the level of cooperation by industry, and the 

13 contribution to national goals pertaining to energy con14 sumption. The Secretary shall transmit periodic reports 

15 detailing the findings of such assessments to the Energy 

16 and Commerce Committee of the House of Representa17 tives and the Commerce, Science, and Transportation 

18 Committee of the Senate. 

19 ‘‘(d) TIRE MARKING.—The Secretary shall not re20 quire permanent labeling of any kind on a tire for the pur21 pose of tire fuel efficiency information. 

22 ‘‘(e) PREEMPTION.—When a requirement under this 

23 section is in effect, a State or political subdivision of a 

24 State may adopt or enforce a law or regulation on tire 

25 fuel efficiency consumer information only if the law or reg-
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1 ulation is identical to that requirement. Nothing in this 

2 section shall be construed to preempt a State or political 

3 subdivision of a State from regulating the fuel efficiency 

4 of tires not otherwise preempted under this chapter.’’. 

5 (b) ENFORCEMENT.—Section 30165(a) of such chap6 ter is amended by adding at the end the following: 

7 ‘‘(3) SECTION 30123A.—Any person who fails to 

8 comply with the national tire fuel efficiency con9 sumer information program under section 30123A is 

10 liable to the United States Government for a civil 

11 penalty of not more than $50,000 for each viola12 tion.’’. 

13 (c) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 

14 chapter 301 of title 49 is amended by adding the following 

15 new item after the item relating to section 30123: 

‘‘30123A. Tire fuel efficiency consumer information.’’. 

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