I
106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 5278
To express the sense of Congress that the President should take action
to develop a comprehensive energy policy and to amend the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the 1993 4.3-cent increases in highway
motor fuel taxes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SEPTEMBER 25, 2000
Mr. HYDE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Commerce,
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
committee concerned
A BILL
To express the sense of Congress that the President should
take action to develop a comprehensive energy policy
and to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to
repeal the 1993 4.3-cent increases in highway motor
fuel taxes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Energy Independence
Through Presidential Leadership Act’’.
SEC. 2. PRESIDENTIAL LEADERSHIP TO ENACT COM-
PREHENSIVE ENERGY POLICY.
(a) CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS.—The Congress finds
that:
(1) The United States increasingly depends on
foreign nations to supply its energy needs.
(2) That dependence leaves the United States
increasingly vulnerable to the whims of foreign na-
tions and constitutes a grave and worsening threat
to our national security and our economy.
(3) Lessening this dependence is not easy, and
it cannot be done in a short period of time.
(4) The United States can lessen its depend-
ence over a longer period of time by enacting a com-
prehensive energy policy designed to address the nu-
merous elements of the problem. Those elements in-
clude: increased domestic energy production con-
sistent with reasonable environmental guidelines, in-
creased domestic refining and transportation capac-
ity consistent with reasonable environmental guide-
lines, increased diplomatic pressure on foreign na-
tions that produce oil, increased energy efficiency of
engines and generation facilities, increased use of re-
newable energy sources throughout our economy,
and a reformed excise tax structure.
(5) Because the elements of a comprehensive
energy policy are so varied—involving many groups
within society and the jurisdiction of many govern-
ment agencies and congressional committees—Con-
gress can only enact such a policy with committed
leadership from the President.
(6) In the meantime, Congress and the Presi-
dent should provide some minimal relief for con-
sumers hit by high gasoline prices.
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS RESOLUTION.—It is the
sense of Congress that the President should take imme-
diate and appropriate action to lead the United States in
developing and enacting a comprehensive energy policy to
lessen our dependence on foreign nations to supply our
energy needs.
SEC. 3. IMMEDIATE CONSUMER RELIEF THROUGH REPEAL
OF DEFICIT REDUCTION TAX.
(a) HIGHWAY GASOLINE.—Clause (i) of section
4081(a)(2)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is
amended by striking ‘‘18.3 cents’’ and inserting ‘‘14
cents’’.
(b) DIESEL FUEL AND KEROSENE.—Clause (iii) of
section 4081(a)(2)(A) of such Code is amended by striking
‘‘24.3 cents’’ and inserting ‘‘20 cents’’.
(c) TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.—