Running on Empty

What does it take for the world's largest oil consumer to rethink its gas-guzzling ways? Global warming? A war in Iraq? The perceived necessity of drilling in pristine Arctic wilderness or of maintaining good relations with tyrranical leaders who control the oil supply? Nope, only voter indignation at the price we're currently being asked to pay at the pump. Suddenly the Republicans are falling all over themselves trying to present us with short-term solutions like the now-infamous $100 gasoline rebate without doing much at all to address this problem in the long term.

And the Democrats have no reason for pride on this score either. Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) introduced a bill called the Automobile Fuel Efficiency Improvements Act way back in September 2005. But thus far, only two Senators, Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Charles Schumer (D-NY), have been willing to co-sponsor S.1648, which would mandate dramatic improvements in automobile fuel efficiency. This is a bill that the whole party should get behind while the issue has momentum and visibility.

And let's have no more talk of decreasing the gas tax, or distributing gas rebates, or increasing the domestic supply by drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. If it takes high gas prices to get our attention - if only short-term financial pain can alert us to the less tangible costs of our oil addiction in climate change, health, and national security - then the current crisis could be the answer to our prayers. Let's use this opportunity to create real changes in U.S. energy policy that will better serve our nation and the world.


The substance of S.1648 is summarized on the Library of Congress' legislative information website THOMAS as follows:

Automobile Fuel Efficiency Improvements Act of 2005

Amends federal transportation law to phase in an increase in average fuel economy standards: (1) from 25 miles per gallon for passenger automobiles manufactured between model years 1984 and 2008 to 40 miles per gallon for those manufactured after model year 2016; and (2) from 17 miles per gallon for non-passenger automobiles manufactured between model years 1984 and 2008 to 27.5 miles per gallon for those manufactured after model year 2016. Requires the Secretary of Transportation to prescribe such standards for non-passenger automobiles at least 18 months before the beginning of each model year after model year 2017.

Revises the definitions of automobile and passenger automobile, increasing the weight standards and seating capacity.

Increases the civil penalties for violations of fuel economy standards.

Requires the Secretary of Transportation to: (1) report biennially to Congress on the quality of the automobile fuel economy testing for all currently available automobile technologies; and (2) provide for the John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center to study what practicable automobile fuel economy testing process provides the most accurate measures of actual automobile fuel economy in highway use, in urban use, and in combined highway and in urban use.

Directs the Secretary to prescribe: (1) a revised testing procedure for accurately measuring the actual automobile fuel economy of each automobile model, based on the latter study; and (2) amended average fuel economy standards taking into account improved accuracy in their calculation resulting from use of such procedure.

Revises requirements for the fleet average fuel economy standards for U.S. executive agency automobiles, both passenger and non-passenger.

Directs the President to prescribe regulations that require a specified minimum number of exceptionally fuel-efficient vehicles leased or bought by U.S. executive agencies.