Up Front
UP FRONT
ON SOME MAJOR ENERGY PROPOSALS CURRENTLY BEFORE CONGRESS.
AT THE PRESENT time, Congress is considering more than 500 energy proposals. All are measures that relate to one or more of the major issue areas, which have been cosponsored by a large number of members, or that are being considered by House committees working on energy legislation.
So that you’ll be more aware of these proposals, excerpts of the Democratic Study Group, U.S. House of Representatives Special Report, dated April 16, 1975, follow. I’m sure you’ll find them interesting.
ON GASOLINE CONSERV ATION
Administration Proposal. The President would place a $2 per barrel excise tax on all domestic crude oil and a $2 per barrel fee on imported crude oil and refined products rather than impose a direct gasoline tax.
Ullman Proposal. Recommends an additional gas tax of seven cents per gallon to be imposed on January 1, 1976. The tax would be gradually raised to 37 cents a gallon by April 1, 1980. An income tax credit for each U.S. resident would completely offset the tax on nine gallons of gas per week.
Democratic Task Force Proposal. Recommends an additional five cents per gallon tax on gas at the pump. That would raise the total federal tax to nine cents per gallon.
Subcommittee Draft of the Energy Conservation and Oil Policy Act. Recommends a mandatory gas allocation savings program that would require a two percent reduction in gas consumption from a 1972 base and would not permit any increase for three years. This is designed as an interim measure until other conservation measures mature.
Ambro, Harris, Maguire, Miller, Moffett Proposal. Instead of recommending a gas tax, this plan suggests a mandatory allocation could reduce consumption five percent to eight percent below 1974 levels.
Democratic Advisory Council. Recommends that a gas tax be phased in over five years to serve as a revenue generator for energy supply and conservation projects and as encouragement for efficient use of automobiles. Gas tax increases could be rebated either through a concurrent reduction in individual income tax rates or through federal grants to state and local governments for sales tax reductions. Proposal also suggests that the exact size and scheduling of the tax should be closely tied to the rate of economic recovery.
Ground Proposal Systems Research, Development, and Demonstration Act (H.R. 5557). Introduced by Rep. Brown with more than 20 cosponsors. Bill would authorize and direct the Energy Research and Development Administration to conduct research for the development of ground propulsion systems that have low emissions and high fuel economy. Also would attempt to develop clean, efficient, non-petroleum based propulsion systems for automobiles.
Electric Vehicle Research, Development, and Demonstration Act. (H.R. 5470). Introduced by Rep. McCormack and six cosponsors. Calls for a three-year program in which 10,000 electric vehicles would be purchased and leased in all areas of the U.S. Program would cost $40 million annually and would consist of two phases. 1. The introduction within one year of several thousand electrically powered vehicles using existing American automobile chassis, and 2. The production of several thousand vehicles specifically designed for practical electrical propulsion. Research and development would include work on energy storage as well as design of vehicles.
ON AUTO FUEL ECONOMY
Administration Proposal. Recommends a voluntary agreement by the auto industry to improve fuel efficiency by 40 percent for all new cars by 1980.
Ullman Proposal. Would impose a fuel mileage efficiency tax phased in over a five-year period beginning on 1977 model cars with fuel mileage rates less than 21 miles per gallon. This in reality is a manufacturers’ excise tax on new cars.
Democratic Task Force Proposal. Would require manufacturers to produce cars with engines 50 percent more efficient in fuel use by 1980, and 100 percent more efficient by 1985. These increases in efficiency would be based on 1974 fuel consumption figures. The plan would also provide incentives for the purchase of fuel-efficient vehicles and recommends either a penalty or an excise tax on the purchase of less fuel-efficient vehicles.
Subcommittee Draft of the Energy Conservation and Oil Policy Act. Recommends rebates that would apply in the 1977 model year to the purchase of any automobile capable of getting 18 miles per gallon or more. Rebates for 1977 would range from $40 to $200. In the next four model years, the mpg capability and the amount of the rebates increase, so that in 1981, the threshold is 22 mpg and the rebates would approach $800. The Environmental Protection Agency would be authorized to lower the mpg threshold, if attainment of motor vehicle emissions standards results in a fuel penalty that exceeds one mpg. The rebate would be payable only on domestically assembled automobiles and would be paid to the manufacturer with a requirement that it be passed through to the purchaser. The proposal would require automobile mileage labeling and would provide the FEQ with the authority to monitor the progress of manufacturers in producing more efficient motor vehicles.
Ambro, Harris, Maguire, Miller, Moffett Proposal. Calls for mandatory minimum auto efficiency standards that require all cars manufactured in the U.S. to achieve a 20-mpg mileage efficiency by 1980 and a 25-mpg efficiency by 1985. An excise tax on fuel-inefficient vehicles is also proposed, along with a rebate on efficient vehicles. Both the rebate and tax would be figured on a sliding scale.
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Democratic Advisory Council Proposal. Recommends an immediate tax credit on the purchase of new cars with high fuel efficiency and a tax penalty phased in over several years on new cars with poor efficiency.
Automobile Fuel Consumption Act (H.R. 617). Introduced by Rep. Litton and 20 cosponsors. Would impose a one-time excise tax on each auto sold in the U.S. after July 1, 1976, that uses more fuel than specified by a standard that would become more stringent year by year. For the 12-month period beginning July 1, 1976, the fuel standard would be 14 mpg. By July 1, 1980, it would be 20 mpg. Mileage and excise tax would have to be indicated on the price sticker of all vehicles subject to the tax. Funds would go into energy research.
Automobile Tax and Rebate Act (H.R. 1958). Introduced by Rep. Pike and 30 cosponsors. Would impose an excise tax starting at $200 and increasing to a maximum $1000 for the worst energy consuming cars. A rebate from $200 to $1000 would also be offered for the most efficient cars. The breakeven point would be 19 mpg until July 1, 1977 and 20 mpg from 1977 to 1980.
Fuel Economy Act (H.R. 3062).
Introduced by Rep Vanik and more than 50 cosponsors. Would impose a graduated excise tax on automobiles based on their fuel economy. Any car over 20 mpg (determined by the EPA), would be assessed no tax.
Clean Air Act Amendments (H.R. 4369). Introduced by Rep. Brown and 25 cosponsors. Among other things, this bill would postpone air quality standards for a maximum of four years, providing all requirements of implementation plans-including emission controls, land use, transportation controls and energy conservation measures-are being met to the maximum extent feasible.
If some of these proposals upset you, if you want to voice an opinion (you should), or if you want more information than presented here, write your congressmen. Regardless of the individual or state, the addresses are as follows:
For senators: The Honorable (Name) Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 For representatives: The Honorable (Name) House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515
