I
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2614
To amend title 49, United States Code, to improve highway safety by requir-
ing reductions in the aggressivity of light trucks; to extend average
fuel economy standards to all light trucks up to 10,000 pounds gross
vehicle weight; to require phased increases in the average fuel economy
standards for passenger automobiles and light trucks; to improve the
accuracy of average fuel economy testing and public information regard-
ing average fuel economy; and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JULY 24, 2001
Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California (for himself, Ms. ESHOO, Mr. NADLER,
Mr. SANDERS, Mr. SCHIFF, Ms. PELOSI, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Ms. LEE,
Mr. BLAGOJEVICH, Mr. FILNER, Mr. HOLT, Mr. HINCHEY, Mr.
TIERNEY, and Ms. WOOLSEY) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 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 amend title 49, United States Code, to improve highway
safety by requiring reductions in the aggressivity of light
trucks; to extend average fuel economy standards to all
light trucks up to 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight;
to require phased increases in the average fuel economy
standards for passenger automobiles and light trucks;
to improve the accuracy of average fuel economy testing
and public information regarding average fuel economy;
and for other purposes.
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 ‘‘Safety and Fuel Econ-
omy (SAFE) Act’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds and declares the following:
(1) Automobile fuel economy standards have
played an important role in mitigating the increased
consumption of gasoline and have resulted in lower
fuel costs to consumers.
(2) Such standards and the successful response
of automobile manufacturers to those standards
have been very effective in increasing automobile
fuel efficiency, resulting in a near doubling of the
passenger automobile fleet fuel economy between
1975 and the present.
(3) In recent years, the average automobile fuel
economy of the fleets of many automobile manufac-
turers has actually declined, while the size and
horsepower of the fleets have increased. Overall,
automobile and light truck average fuel economy in
2000 was at its lowest in 20 years.
(4) Several Government studies agree that in-
creased fuel efficiency is possible utilizing currently
available technology and without significant changes
in the size, mix, or performance of the fleet of auto-
mobiles. In addition, the safety of the current fleet
of automobiles can be maintained and potentially im-
proved through improved safety features.
(5) With appropriate lead time, and by utilizing
technology currently in production, passenger auto-
mobile average fuel economy of between 38 and 45
miles per gallon has been estimated by various ex-
perts to be feasible without significant changes in
automobile size or performance. When technology
currently in development becomes available, even
higher levels of average fuel economy are possible.
(6) Improved automobile average fuel economy
standards can reduce carbon dioxide emissions, im-
prove air quality, and potentially mitigate against
global warming.
SEC. 3. IMPROVING CRASH SAFETY OF AUTOMOBILES AND
LIGHT TRUCKS IN COLLISIONS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter 301 of
title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the
end the following:
‘‘§ 30128. Crash safety of automobiles and light trucks
in collisions
‘‘(a) MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD.—
‘‘(1) NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING.—Not
later than June 1, 2002, the Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall issue a notice of proposed rulemaking to
prescribe a new Federal motor vehicle safety stand-
ard to improve the crash safety of automobiles and
light trucks in collisions.
‘‘(2) CRAGG INDEX.—The new standard pre-
scribed under this subsection shall include a Crash
Aggressivity index (in this section referred to as a
‘CRAGG index’) that—
‘‘(A) measures the aggressivity of a motor
vehicle;
‘‘(B) takes into account the stiffness,
structure height, and mass of a vehicle; and
‘‘(C) substantially improves the present
crash safety of automobiles and light trucks by
reducing the aggressivity of such vehicles.
‘‘(3) FINAL RULE.—Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, the Secretary shall complete a rule-
making to prescribe such a standard by issuing, not
later than June 1, 2003, a final rule with any provi-
sion the Secretary considers appropriate, consistent
with this subsection and the requirements of section
30111 of title 49, United States Code.
‘‘(4) EFFECTIVE
DATE.—The Secretary shall
specify in the final rule issued under this subsection
that the rule—
‘‘(A) shall become effective in phases as
rapidly as practicable, beginning September 1,
2005; and
‘‘(B) shall be fully effective for all vehicles
identified in section 30127(b) of title 49,
United States Code, that are manufactured on
and after September 1, 2009.
‘‘(b) DISCLOSURE OF CRAGG INDEX RATINGS TO
PURCHASERS.—
‘‘(1) DISCLOSURE BY MANUFACTURERS.—The
Secretary of Transportation shall issue regulations
that require that motor vehicle manufacturers—
‘‘(A) report CRAGG index ratings for each
model year after model year 2005;
‘‘(B) submit the first such report by no
later than August 1, 2005, and submit such re-
ports by August 1 of each year thereafter; and
‘‘(C) conspicuously post on each new motor
vehicle at the point of sale the CRAGG index
rating for the vehicle, beginning September 1,
2005.
‘‘(2) DISCLOSURE
BY
SECRETARY.—The Sec-
retary shall also post on the Department of Trans-
portation’s Internet website, beginning September 1,
2005—
‘‘(A) comparative CRAGG index ratings,
by make and model; and
‘‘(B) an identification of the 10 motor ve-
hicles with the greatest aggressivity, by CRAGG
index rating, each year.
‘‘(c) ANNUAL REPORT.—The Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall annually report to the Congress on January
1 of each year beginning in 2004 on the progress made
in improving the crash safety of automobiles and light
trucks in collisions. Such report shall address the com-
parative improvement in the aggressivity of new vehicles
as measured by the CRAGG index and the number of fa-
talities caused by the aggressivity of light trucks and sport
utility vehicles in collisions with other vehicles.
‘‘(d) REVISION OF STANDARD.—On September 1,
2007, the Secretary of Transportation shall issue an ad-
vanced notice of proposed rulemaking to determine if sub-
stantial improvement has been made in the crash safety
of automobiles and light trucks that are subject to the
Federal motor vehicle safety standard prescribed under
subsection (a). If substantial improvement has not been
made, the Secretary shall issue a notice of proposed rule-
making by March 1, 2008, to revise such standard to fur-
ther increase crash comparability. If initiated, the Sec-
retary shall complete the rulemaking required by this sub-
section by issuing a new final rule not later than March
1, 2009. The Secretary shall specify in the rule that the
rule shall become effective in phases as rapidly as prac-
ticable, beginning September 1, 2010. The rule shall be-
come fully effective for all vehicles identified in section
30127(b), title 49, United States Code, that are manufac-
tured on and after September 1, 2012.
‘‘(e) PHASED-IN REQUIREMENTS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—If the Secretary of Trans-
portation fails to meet any of the deadlines in sub-
sections (a) through (d) of this section with respect
to any motor vehicle, motor vehicles with respect to
which such deadline applied having a gross vehicle
weight rating less than 10,000 pounds that are man-
ufactured by each manufacturer must satisfy the re-
quirements described in paragraph (2) in accordance
with the following phase-in schedule:
‘‘(A) 20 percent of such vehicles manufac-
tured by a manufacturer in the first year after
the date the deadline is not met must satisfy
such requirements.
‘‘(B) 40 percent of such vehicles manufac-
tured by a manufacturer in the second year
after the date the deadline is not met must sat-
isfy such requirements.
‘‘(C) 60 percent of such vehicles manufac-
tured by a manufacturer in the third year after
the date the deadline is not met must satisfy
such requirements.
‘‘(D) 80 percent of such vehicles manufac-
tured by a manufacturer in the fourth year
after deadline is not met must satisfy such re-
quirements.
‘‘(E) All such vehicles manufactured by a
manufacturer after the fourth year after the
date the deadline is not met must satisfy such
requirements.
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENTS.—The requirements re-
ferred to in paragraph (1) are the following, in the
frontal barrier crash test defined in section 571.208
S5.1 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, con-
ducted with a load cell barrier:
‘‘(A) The height of the center of force as
determined by a 30 mile per hour crash into a
load cell barrier shall not be greater than 22
inches (55 centimeters).
‘‘(B) For any vehicle with a curb weight
greater than 3,500 pounds, the dynamic stiff-
ness shall not be greater than the number de-
termined by multiplying—
‘‘(i) 50,000 pounds; by
‘‘(ii) 
the 
number 
determined 
by
dividing—
‘‘(I) 33,000; by
‘‘(II) the number determined by
subtracting the weight of the vehicle
(in pounds) from 20,000.
‘‘(f) ADVISORY
COMMITTEES.—The Secretary of
Transportation shall ensure that—
‘‘(1) any Federal advisory committee, task
force, or other entity concerned with vehicle compat-
ibility includes a balance of representatives from
consumer and safety organizations, insurers, manu-
facturers, and suppliers; and
‘‘(2) such consumer and safety organization
representatives are selected from among organiza-
tions that do not receive any significant funding
from motor vehicle manufacturers and their affili-
ates.
‘‘(g) DEFINITIONS.—
‘‘(1) AUTOMOBILE; LIGHT TRUCK.—Each of the
terms ‘automobile’ and ‘light truck’ has the meaning
set forth in section 32901 of this title.
‘‘(2) AGGRESSIVITY.—The term ‘aggressivity’
means the degree to which the front of a motor vehi-
cle, in a collision with another motor vehicle—
‘‘(A) inflicts damage to the other motor ve-
hicle; and
‘‘(B) causes injury to the occupants of the
other motor vehicle.’’.
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections
at the beginning of chapter 301 of title 49, United States
Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to
section 30127 the following:
‘‘30128. Crash safety of automobiles and light trucks in collisions.’’.
SEC. 4. INCREASED AVERAGE FUEL ECONOMY STANDARDS
FOR PASSENGER AUTOMOBILES AND LIGHT
TRUCKS.
(a) INCREASED STANDARDS.—Section 32902 of title
49, United States Code, is amended—
(1) in subsection (a)—
(A) by striking ‘‘NON-PASSENGER AUTO-
MOBILES.—’’ and inserting ‘‘PRESCRIPTION OF
STANDARDS BY REGULATION.—’’; and
(B) by striking ‘‘(except passenger auto-
mobiles)’’ and inserting ‘‘(except passenger
automobiles and light trucks)’’; and
(2) by amending subsection (b) to read as fol-
lows:
‘‘(b) STANDARDS
FOR PASSENGER AUTOMOBILES
AND LIGHT TRUCKS.—
‘‘(1) PASSENGER AUTOMOBILES, GENERALLY.—
The average fuel economy standard for passenger
automobiles manufactured by a manufacturer—
‘‘(A) after model year 2003 shall be 30.0
miles per gallon; and
‘‘(B) after model year 2005 shall be 32.5
miles per gallon.
‘‘(2) LIGHT TRUCKS.—The average fuel econ-
omy standard for light trucks manufactured by a
manufacturer—
‘‘(A) after model year 2003 shall be 23.0
miles per gallon; and
‘‘(B) after model year 2005 shall be 25.5
miles per gallon.
‘‘(3) COMBINED STANDARD.—The average fuel
economy standard for the combination of passenger
automobiles and light trucks manufactured by a
manufacturer—
‘‘(A) after model year 2007 shall be 32.0
miles per gallon;
‘‘(B) after model year 2009 shall be 36.0
miles per gallon; and
‘‘(C) after model year 2011 shall be 40.0
miles per gallon.’’.
(b) DEFINITION OF LIGHT TRUCK.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 32901(a) of title 49,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the
end the following:
‘‘(17) ‘light truck’ means an automobile that
the Secretary decides by regulation—
‘‘(A) is manufactured primarily for trans-
porting not more than 10 individuals;
‘‘(B) is rated at not more than 8,500
pounds gross vehicle weight; and
‘‘(C) is not a passenger automobile.’’.
(2) DEADLINE FOR REGULATIONS.—The Sec-
retary of Transportation—
(A) shall issue proposed regulations imple-
menting the amendment made by this sub-
section by not later than 6 months after the
date of the enactment of this Act; and
(B) shall issue final regulations imple-
menting such amendment by not later than one
year after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(c) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENTS.—(1) 
Section
32902(c) of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘the stand-
ard’’ and inserting ‘‘a standard’’; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘increases the
standard above 27.5 miles per gallon, or decreases
the standard below 26.0 miles per gallon,’’ and in-
serting ‘‘increases the standard above the standard
that would otherwise apply under subsection (b), or
decreases the standard by more than 1.5 miles per
gallon below the standard that would otherwise
apply under subsection (b),’’.
(d) APPLICATION.—The amendments made by this
section shall apply beginning on January 1, 2006.
(e) APPLICABILITY OF EXISTING STANDARDS.—This
section does not affect the application of section 32902
of title 49, United States Code, to passenger automobiles
and light trucks manufactured before model year 2007.
SEC. 5. FUEL ECONOMY STANDARDS FOR AUTOMOBILES UP
TO 10,000 POUNDS GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT.
(a) VEHICLES DEFINED AS AUTOMOBILES.—Section
32901(a)(3) of title 49, United States Code, is amended
by striking ‘‘6,000’’ each place it appears and inserting
‘‘8,500’’.
(b) APPLICATION DATE.—The amendment made by
subsection (a) shall apply beginning on January 1, 2006.
SEC. 6. IMPROVEMENT OF CALCULATION OF AVERAGE
FUEL ECONOMY.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 32904(a) of title 49,
United States Code, is amended—
(1) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ before the first sentence;
(2) in paragraph (1) (as so designated), in the
second sentence by inserting ‘‘and subject to para-
graph (2) of this subsection,’’ after ‘‘of this title,’’;
and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(2) Calculations and testing procedures prescribed
by the Secretary under paragraph (1) shall ensure that
average fuel economy calculated under this subsection—
‘‘(A) reflects, and is determined under condi-
tions that include, actual driving conditions; and
‘‘(B) is not an optimized number that results
solely from tests performed under laboratory condi-
tions.’’.
(b) APPLICATION.—The amendment made by sub-
section (a) shall apply with respect to automobiles manu-
factured after model year 2005.
(c) REGULATIONS.—The Administrator of the Envi-
ronmental Protection Agency shall issue regulations that
implement the amendments made by subsection (a) by not
later than December 31, 2002.
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