On July 15, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation approved a multi-year transportation bill that contains the tire performance standards and tire registration provisions of the previously introduced Senate Bill 1741.
The bipartisan S.1741 was introduced last week in the U.S. Senate by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and co-sponsored by Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS).
The Tire Efficiency, Safety and Registration Act of 2015 (TESR Act) would create minimum tire performance standards for tire fuel efficiency and wet traction; improve manufacturers’ ability to contact consumers in the event of a tire recall; and create a Web-based tool for consumers and tire dealers to more easily determine whether a tire is subject to a safety recall.
It is now also part of S.1732, Comprehensive Transportation and Consumer Protection Act of 2015, which is sponsored by Sen. John Thune (R-SD), Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE), Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS). The bill will advance in combination with S.1647 (the DRIVE Act), previously approved by the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, and component legislation from other Senate committees to form legislation commonly referred to as “The Highway Bill” or the “Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill.”
Commerce Committee chairman Sen. John Thune (R-SD), said: “The committee incorporated important bipartisan safety enhancements and approved a bill that enacts critical regulatory reforms. We worked hard to include input from both sides of the aisle, and we now have a bill that can move forward towards enacting a multi-year transportation reauthorization bill versus passing additional short-term extensions.”
According to the RMA, which backs S.1741, the Senate has reserved time over the next two weeks to debate a long-term highway bill, but a number of hurdles remain before it can be considered.
