Peters, Stabenow & Alexander Bill to Promote Fuel Efficient Vehicle Technologies Advances in Senate
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN) today applauded the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources’ approval of bipartisan legislation they reintroduced to support research and development of clean vehicle and advanced safety technologies. The Vehicle Innovation Act would bolster investment in more energy efficient cars and trucks to help increase fuel mileage and decrease our nation’s dependence on foreign oil. In the 114th Congress, Senators Peters, Stabenow and Alexander introduced similar legislation, which was approved by the U.S. Senate as part of the Energy Policy Modernization Act.
“Ever since the first cars rolled of the assembly line, Michiganders have built the vehicles that helped define the auto industry,” said Senator Peters. “This bipartisan legislation would help ensure that the next fleet of American cars and trucks increases fuel mileage, saves consumers money, and creates the jobs that will place a new generation of our autoworkers at the forefront of innovation.”
“Michigan’s auto workers are the best in the world,” said Senator Stabenow. “This bill will help our manufacturers innovate and develop new products, which will create jobs and give consumers more choice.”
“Tennessee’s auto industry supports 88 of our 95 counties and more than one-third of our state’s manufacturing jobs are auto-related. Investment in new vehicle technologies will continue to give consumers more options and attract good-paying jobs,” said Senator Alexander. “This legislation will help the U.S. Department of Energy continue its research to make cars and trucks more fuel efficient, to improve electric vehicles and batteries and to develop alternative fuels, and I’m glad it was approved by this committee today.”
The Vehicle Innovation Act is supported by the Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, the United Auto Workers, the BlueGreen Alliance and the Natural Resources Defense Council.
This bipartisan legislation would also provide additional resources to the Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office to help manufacturers keep pace with emerging advanced technologies that have the potential to reduce fuel costs in the national vehicle fleet.
Earlier this year, Representatives Debbie Dingell (MI-12th) and Haley Stevens (MI-11th) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
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