[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2865 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
108th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2865
To require that automobiles and light trucks are able to operate on a
fuel mixture that is at least 85 percent ethanol, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 29, 2004
Mr. Dayton introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require that automobiles and light trucks are able to operate on a
fuel mixture that is at least 85 percent ethanol, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Freedom From Foreign Oil Act of
2004''.
SEC. 2. REQUIREMENT TO PERMIT AUTOMOBILES TO USE CERTAIN ALTERNATIVE
FUELS.
(a) Requirement.--Chapter 329 of title 49, United States Code, is
amended by inserting after section 32902 the following new section:
``Sec. 32902A. Requirement to equip automobiles to use alternative
biofuels
``(a) Requirement.--A passenger automobile, an automobile capable
of off-highway operation, or a light truck manufactured by a
manufacturer in a model year that is after model year 2005 and that is
capable of operating on gasoline shall also be capable of operating on
a flexible fuel mixture.
``(b) Consumer Information.--The Secretary of Transportation shall
prescribe regulations that require the manufacturer of a passenger
automobile, an automobile capable of off-highway operation, or a light
truck--
``(1) to prominently display a permanent badge or emblem on
the quarter panel or tailgate of each such automobile or light
truck manufactured by the manufacturer that indicates such
automobile or light truck is capable of operating on a flexible
fuel mixture; and
``(2) to include in the owner's manual of each such
automobile or light truck information describing--
``(A) the capability of the automobile or light
truck to operate using a flexible fuel mixture; and
``(B) the benefits of using a flexible fuel
mixture, including the renewable nature, the increased
fuel efficiency, and the environmental benefits of
using flexible fuels.
``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Automobile capable of off-highway operation.--The
term `automobile capable of off-highway operation' has the
meaning given that term in section 523.5 of title 49, Code of
Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation).
``(2) Flexible fuel mixture.--The term `flexible fuel
mixture' means a mixture containing at least 85 percent of
ethanol by volume with gasoline.
``(3) Light truck.--The term `light truck' has the meaning
given that term in section 523.5 of title 49, Code of Federal
Regulations (or any successor regulation).''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section
32902 the following new item:
``32902A. Requirement to equip automobiles to use alternative
biofuels.''.
SEC. 3. PENALTIES.
A person may not be treated as being in violation of section
32911(a) of title 49, United States Code, if the person fails to comply
with section 32902A of such title, as added by section 2, on a date
that is prior to January 1, 2007.
SEC. 4. ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE THE USE OF CERTAIN ALTERNATIVE FUELS.
The Secretary of Transportation shall carry out activities to
promote the use of a mixture containing at least 85 percent of ethanol
by volume with gasoline in motor vehicles in the United States.
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