February 14, 2003
The Honorable Jeffrey W. Runge, M.D. Dear Dr. Runge: Pursuant to its statutory requirement, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently released a notice of proposed rule making regarding corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards for light trucks. The light truck CAFE increase proposed by NHTSA is estimated to save at least 2.5 billion gallons of gasoline over model years 2005-2007. There will surely be some who will argue that this CAFE increase for light trucks is not aggressive enough. We believe, however, that the CAFE increase announced in NHTSA’s proposed rule is laudable. Moreover, this increase is consistent with the fuel savings goal of 5 billion gallons over model years 2006-2012 set out in H.R. 4, the "SAFE Act of 2001," which was adopted by the House of Representatives as well as the House-Senate conference committee. The legislative history of the light truck CAFE provision is clear. On August 1, 2001, the House of Representatives considered H.R. 4, the "SAFE Act of 2001". This energy legislation included a provision for automobile fuel efficiency which directed NHTSA to promulgate a rule. That would provide for an increase in light truck CAFE standards that would be phased in over a multi-year period and result in a savings of five billion gallons of gasoline by the year 2010. The overall legislation was passed by a vote of 240 to 189. Moreover, Reps. Boehlert and Markey introduced an amendment to statutorily increase CAFE standards for light trucks in a single year from 20.7 miles per gallon to 27.5 miles per gallon. The Bohlert/Markey amendment was considered by the House of Representatives and was soundly defeated by a vote of 269 to 160. On March 13, 2002, the Senate considered a CAFE amendment by Senators Levin and Bond during the debate of H.R. 4, the "SAFE Act of 2001". The Levin/Bond amendment directed NHTSA to promulgate a rule that would provide an increase in light truck CAFE standards to be phased in over a multi-year period. The amendment also required NHTSA to consider several new factors, including the effect of CAFE standards on safety and the effect of CAFE standards on levels of employment in the United States. The Levin/Bond amendment passed the Senate by a vote of 62 to 38. Senator Miller also offered an amendment that statutorily prohibited NHTSA from increasing CAFE standards for pick-up trucks over 20.7 miles per gallon. The Miller amendment passed by a vote of 56 to 44. On September 12, 2002, the House-Senate Conference for H.R. 4, the "SAFE Act of 2001", addressed the issue of increasing CAFE standards for light trucks. The House Conferees proposed that NHTSA promulgate a rule that would increase light truck CAFE standards for model years 2006 through 2012 resulting in a fuel savings of 5 billion gallons of gasoline. The Senate Conferees accepted this proposal by voice vote without objection. The preceding legislative summary of the consideration of H.R. 4, the "SAFE Act of 2001", should be instructive on the intent of Congress regarding the CAFE standards for light trucks. We are confident that NHTSA will continue to work toward a sound proposal that will both lessen this country’s dependence of foreign oil and provide automakers with aggressive yet achievable goals. As you proceed with this rulemaking process, please contact us with any questions or concerns you may have. We look forward to working with you on this issue. Sincerely, W.J. "Billy" Tauzin John D. Dingell | |
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