Diesel Emissions Reduction Act to be extended

The House of Representatives Tuesday approved by voice vote House Resolution H.R. 5809, a five-year extension of the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA). The bill already was approved by the Senate Dec. 16, and is expected to be signed by President Obama, according to the Maryland-based non-profit group Diesel Technology Forum.

DERA was created in 2005 to establish voluntary national and state-level grant and loan programs to reduce diesel emissions by upgrading and modernizing older diesel engines and equipment. Bipartisan extension efforts for the extension were advanced in the Senate by Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio) and Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.). House sponsors were Reps. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) and Laura Richardson (D-Calif.).

Said Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum, “Today’s passage of DERA is a significant environmental and political accomplishment for the U.S. Congress. The House and Senate have proved that bipartisanship can be attained on major environmental initiatives.

“Passage of the DERA reauthorization will play a major role in our nation’s effort to expand our clean air initiatives. In its first five years, DERA has proven to be one of the nation’s most successful clean air programs. In addition, DERA has provided an average of $20 worth of environmental and health benefits for every $1 spent. That’s a tremendous return on investment for any federal program,” Schaeffer said.