U.S. House Approves Bill That Mandates 35 mpg

Bush to sign fuel economy legislation

WASHINGTON, December 18, 2007 (Detroit Free Press) — The U.S. House approved Tuesday a historic 35 mile-per-gallon fuel economy standard by 2020 and a boost in renewable fuels that President George W. Bush will sign Wednesday.

A $22 billion tax package that was stripped out in the Senate included some incentives for automakers, such as up to a $5,000 tax credit for plug-in hybrid vehicles. Michigan Rep. John Dingell, D-Dearborn, said the bill was not the “final word” on climate change or energy efficiency, and vowed to tackle those problems next year.

“Despite the birthing pains of this legislation, and there have been many, it is a good bill,” Dingell said.

Dingell and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi battled for months over the fuel economy provisions before reaching a compromise for 35 m.p.g. by 2020 with enough flexibility that automakers could support the bill. Pelosi had made passing an energy bill a top priority of her first year as speaker.

Pelosi praised Dingell on the House floor Tuesday, calling the bill “ground breaking.”

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