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U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation

For Immediate Release
June 21st, 2007

SENATE ADOPTS BIPARTISAN FUEL ECONOMY COMPROMISE

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate adopted a bipartisan compromise amendment today to increase fuel economy standards by 10 miles per gallon over 10 years.

Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), the original sponsors of the Ten-in-Ten Fuel Economy Act, joined Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii), and Senators Trent Lott (R-Miss.), Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), John Kerry, (D-Mass.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), John Sununu (R-N.H.), Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Elizabeth Dole (R- N.C.), and Larry Craig (R-Idaho) to cosponsor the compromise amendment offered by Commerce Committee Vice Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and Senator Thomas Carper (D-Del.).

“The Committee is pleased that all of these members have come together and continued to work in a bipartisan manner to produce a product that preserves the core of the Ten-in-Ten Fuel Economy Act,” said Senator Inouye.

The compromise to the Commerce Committee-reported legislation:

Preserves the goals of the original Feinstein-Snowe Ten-in-Ten Fuel Economy legislation.

From 2020 to 2030, directs the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to increase fuel economy standards at the maximum feasible rate, instead of 4% as in H.R. 6.

Modifies Section 511 to direct the Department of Transportation (DOT) to develop a plan to ensure manufacturers produce 50% alternative fuel vehicles by 2015, taking into consideration the availability of alternative fuels and the cost effectiveness of technologies. Alternative fuel vehicles include but are not limited to flexible fuel vehicles, hybrids, fuel cells, and other technologies.

Clarifies the safety rulemaking section to increase vehicle “compatibility” of large and small vehicle.

Replaces language authorizing NHTSA to use an attribute based system with language requiring NHTSA to use such a system.

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To watch the Fuel Economy Press Conference click here.

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For Immediate Release June 21st, 2007

SENATE ADOPTS BIPARTISAN FUEL ECONOMY COMPROMISE

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate adopted a bipartisan compromise amendment today to increase fuel economy standards by 10 miles per gallon over 10 years. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), the original sponsors of the Ten-in-Ten Fuel Economy Act, joined Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii), and Senators Trent Lott (R-Miss.), Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), John Kerry, (D-Mass.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), John Sununu (R-N.H.), Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Elizabeth Dole (R- N.C.), and Larry Craig (R-Idaho) to cosponsor the compromise amendment offered by Commerce Committee Vice Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and Senator Thomas Carper (D-Del.). “The Committee is pleased that all of these members have come together and continued to work in a bipartisan manner to produce a product that preserves the core of the Ten-in-Ten Fuel Economy Act,” said Senator Inouye. The compromise to the Commerce Committee-reported legislation: Preserves the goals of the original Feinstein-Snowe Ten-in-Ten Fuel Economy legislation. From 2020 to 2030, directs the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to increase fuel economy standards at the maximum feasible rate, instead of 4% as in H.R. 6. Modifies Section 511 to direct the Department of Transportation (DOT) to develop a plan to ensure manufacturers produce 50% alternative fuel vehicles by 2015, taking into consideration the availability of alternative fuels and the cost effectiveness of technologies. Alternative fuel vehicles include but are not limited to flexible fuel vehicles, hybrids, fuel cells, and other technologies. Clarifies the safety rulemaking section to increase vehicle “compatibility” of large and small vehicle. Replaces language authorizing NHTSA to use an attribute based system with language requiring NHTSA to use such a system. ### To watch the Fuel Economy Press Conference click here.