IB 
Union Calendar No. 301 
109TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5632 
[Report No. 109–537] 
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 
JUNE 28, 2006 
Additional sponsors: Mr. KINGSTON and Mr. LIPINSKI 
JUNE 28, 2006 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
A BILL 
To amend Chapter 301 of title 49, United States Code, 
to establish a national tire fuel efficiency consumer infor-
mation program, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. TIRE FUEL EFFICIENCY CONSUMER INFORMA-
TION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 301 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 30123 
the following new section: 
‘‘§ 30123A. Tire Fuel Efficiency Consumer Informa-
tion 
‘‘(a) RULEMAKING.—(1) Not later than 18 months 
after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary 
of Transportation shall, after notice and opportunity for 
comment, promulgate rules establishing a national tire 
fuel efficiency consumer information program for tires de-
signed for use on motor vehicles to educate consumers 
about the effect of tires on automobile fuel efficiency. 
‘‘(2) ITEMS INCLUDED IN RULE.—The rulemaking 
shall include each of the following: 
‘‘(A) A national tire fuel efficiency rating sys-
tem for motor vehicle tires to assist consumers in 
making more educated tire purchasing decisions. 
‘‘(B) Requirements for providing information to 
consumers, including information at the point of sale 
and other potential information dissemination meth-
ods, including the internet. 
‘‘(C) Specifications for test methods for manu-
facturers to use in assessing and rating tires to 
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avoid variation among test equipment and manufac-
turers. 
‘‘(D) A national tire maintenance consumer 
education program including, information on tire in-
flation pressure, alignment, rotation, and tread wear 
to maximize fuel efficiency. 
‘‘(3) APPLICABILITY.—This section shall not apply to 
tires excluded from coverage under section 575.104(c)(2) 
of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on 
date of enactment of this section. 
‘‘(b) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall consult 
with the Secretary of Energy and the Administrator of 
the Environmental Protection Agency on the means of 
conveying tire fuel efficiency consumer information. 
‘‘(c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—The Secretary shall 
conduct periodic assessments of the rules promulgated 
under this section to determine the utility of such rules 
to consumers, the level of cooperation by industry, and the 
contribution to national goals pertaining to energy con-
sumption. The Secretary shall transmit periodic reports 
detailing the findings of such assessments to the Energy 
and Commerce Committee of the House of Representa-
tives and the Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
Committee of the Senate. 
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‘‘(d) TIRE MARKING.—The Secretary shall not re-
quire permanent labeling of any kind on a tire for the pur-
pose of tire fuel efficiency information. 
‘‘(e) PREEMPTION.—When a requirement under this 
section is in effect, a State or political subdivision of a 
State may adopt or enforce a law or regulation on tire 
fuel efficiency consumer information only if the law or reg-
ulation is identical to that requirement. Nothing in this 
section shall be construed to preempt a State or political 
subdivision of a State from regulating the fuel efficiency 
of tires not otherwise preempted under this chapter.’’. 
(b) ENFORCEMENT.—Section 30165(a) of such chap-
ter is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) SECTION 30123A.—Any person who fails to 
comply with the national tire fuel efficiency con-
sumer information program under section 30123A is 
liable to the United States Government for a civil 
penalty of not more than $50,000 for each viola-
tion.’’. 
(c) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
chapter 301 of title 49 is amended by adding the following 
new item after the item relating to section 30123: 
‘‘30123A. Tire fuel efficiency consumer information.’’. 
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SECTION 1. TIRE FUEL EFFICIENCY CONSUMER INFORMA-
TION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 301 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 30123 
the following new section: 
‘‘§ 30123A. Tire Fuel Efficiency Consumer Information 
‘‘(a) RULEMAKING.—(1) Not later than 18 months 
after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary 
of Transportation shall, after notice and opportunity for 
comment, promulgate rules establishing a national tire fuel 
efficiency consumer information program for tires designed 
for use on motor vehicles to educate consumers about the 
effect of tires on automobile fuel efficiency. 
‘‘(2) The rulemaking shall include each of the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(A) A national tire fuel efficiency rating system 
for motor vehicle tires to assist consumers in making 
more educated tire purchasing decisions. 
‘‘(B) Requirements for providing information to 
consumers, including information at the point of sale 
and other potential information dissemination meth-
ods, including the internet. 
‘‘(C) Specifications for test methods for manufac-
turers to use in assessing and rating tires to avoid 
variation among test equipment and manufacturers. 
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