April 20, 2016— Legislation to reauthorize the bipartisan clean air program aimed at reducing vehicle emissions from older diesel-powered equipment like school buses, trucks, and construction equipment has been introduced in the U.S. Senate.
The legislation would reauthorize the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) through 2021. It was introduced by U.S. Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) and includes Sens. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.) as original cosponsors.
“We applaud the leadership of Sens. Carper, Inhofe, Boxer and Capito, working on a bipartisan basis to build on the substantial and proven results of the program and to ensure that this highly successful effort can continue to contribute to improving air quality in communities throughout the nation,” said Allen Schaeffer, the executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum.
The DERA program aims to help reduce emissions from older diesel-powered vehicles and equipment by providing incentive funding through a competitive process for equipment owners and operators toward the purchase of new technology engines, approved emission controls or retrofit devices to reduce emissions, or total engine replacements.
“While new diesel technology and fuels have achieved near zero emission levels, DERA is the leading program that upgrades or replaces older diesel engines with newer technology to reduce emissions. Clean air for our communities is not a partisan issue and the fact that Democratic and Republican leaders are working together on this important environmental program is a welcome development to the hundreds of environmental, health, industry and clean air agencies who support DERA and its important mission,” Schaeffer said.
