Today, Sen. John Warner (R-VA) introduced S. 3266, the “Immediate Steps to Conserve Gasoline Act.” This binding legislation calls on both the federal government and Congress to conserve gasoline by lowering their usage 3 percent for one year, and comes at a time when rising gas prices are affecting American families nationwide.

In addition to the mandatory reduction, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) will conduct a study to determine whether future reductions are technically feasible. The 3 percent reduction is the same amount by which federal agencies were required to reduce their energy usage in buildings and at facilities in the “Energy Independent and Security Act of 2007,” which was signed into law by President Bush on December 19, 2007.

The bill also asks the Energy Information Administration to study the effects of imposing a national speed limit of 60 miles per hour. This request comes several weeks after Sen. Warner asked the GAO to study the amount of gas that would be saved by mandating a speed limit.

“All across America, people are making daily sacrifices in order to stretch a tank of gas and to supplement their gasoline budgets,” said Warner. “The least the U.S. Congress can do is look for alternatives to provide immediate relief at the gas pump and on the wallet.”