Congress

ProPublica has put together a very deep look at the past, present, and future of the federal gas tax, and why it hasn't been increased since 1993. The article is a fantastic read.

The federal agency charged with protecting American motorists wants to know more about how hackers remotely commandeered and controlled a Jeep Cherokee.

A group of 36 Senators are pushing for the Environmental Protection Agency to increase the proposed volume of biodiesel under the revised Renewable Fuel Standard.

Arguments over whether cyber-security researchers should have the right to experiment on cars may not end when the U.S. Copyright Office issues a key ruling expected later this month.

Despite government urging, Takata says that it has no plans to create a compensation fund for those harmed by the company's faulty airbag inflators. US Senator Richard Blumenthal plans to keep pressing the issue, though.

The bipartisan Low Volume Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Act (H.R. 2675) being proposed in Congress would open the door the small-scale manufacturing of turn-key replica cars with a new set of NHTSA and EPA standards.

It's going to take years for the auto industry and federal government to sort through the Takata airbag mess.

US Senators, including John McCain, are offering aggressive alternatives to save the A-10 Warthog.

In hearing after hearing last year, members of Congress took turns admonishing auto executives and federal regulators for their roles in prolonging an ongoing series of safety crises. Now, Congress is taking action.

Senator David Vitter of Louisiana - home of Elio Motors - would create a new category for NHTSA and the EPA that would regulate three-wheeled vehicles that are neither car nor motorcycle.

The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee gave its full support to a bill that would encourage whistleblowers in the auto industry. Under the legislation someone that speaks out could get 30 percent of any federal fines against automakers for safety lapses.

President Obama's budget proposal includes a plan to increase the federal tax incentive on EVs and plug-in hybrids to $10,000 and immediately slash the money off the price of green vehicles at purchase. It would also broaden the credit to be applicable to compressed-natural-gas-fueled models.

A bipartisan initiative is once again pushing for an increase in the federal gas tax, although the overall hike would simply bring the tax in line with inflation.

Okay, so maybe Congress isn't that bad. Turns out, there are at least a few enlightened folks on Capitol Hill who recognize that, yes, retiring the iconic A-10 Warthog is a pretty poor idea.

"This is a problem that shows deep and wide issues in their quality-control process." – Sean Kane

The safety crisis surrounding Takata's exploding airbags continues to expand. In the latest revelation, Honda confirms another death linked to the faulty parts, and the company is expanding its recall of the components. However, none of the newly added vehicles are in the United States.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration hasn't had much to celebrate this year. The botched handling of major recall campaigns from General Motors and for faulty Takata airbag inflators haven't put the agency in the best light. Also, its new VIN

With the Takata airbag debacle still yet to be resolved, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has found itself in hot water again. Parties both from within and from without the agency's ranks are asking hard questions about NHTSA's handling of the widespread recall, and now the agency's leadership will have to answer some of those hard questions.

Hyundai may be based in South Korea, but the automaker is touting hydrogen fuel-cell technology as an all-American benefit and is getting some help from the US government to do so. The company said this week that it's collaborating with the US Department of Energy and the House Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Caucus at promoting fuel-cell technology. The t

NHTSA's incompetence played a role in allowing the General Motors ignition switch crisis to go undetected for years.