WASHINGTON (Aug. 12, 2003) — The U.S. Senate sidestepped voting on a proposal from Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., to require fuel economy labels on replacement tires.
That provision—one of a number of amendments which senators tried to add to a pending energy policy bill—became moot when the Senate instead chose to adopt an energy bill it passed last year. A House-Senate conference committee will now try to reconcile differences between their different versions of the energy legislation.
The Schumer provision could again be proposed for the conference bill, though Becky MacDicken, government affairs director for the Tire Industry Association, said she thought it was more likely to turn up attached to another bill.
Sen. Schumer's proposal is similar to a bill which passed the California House of Representatives and is now being considered by that state's senate.