House passes Long’s bipartisan bill reducing diesel emissions

U.S. Rep. Billy Long (R-MO) on Sept. 9 helped push the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of 2019 through the U.S. House of Representatives, which approved the bipartisan bill on a 295-114 vote.

“I am pleased to join with my colleagues in passing the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act,” Rep. Long said following the vote. “This program is a bipartisan, commonsense approach to improving air quality by reducing harmful emissions from older and dirtier diesel engines.”

Rep. Long cosponsored H.R. 1768 with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA) to reauthorize the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) program, which is overseen by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and provides grants to help communities reduce diesel emissions and improve air quality. U.S. Reps. Ken Calvert (R-CA) and Tom Cole (R-OK) were among the other cosponsors of the bill.

“Missouri greatly benefited from this program in 2018, more than doubling the number of school buses that were funded for new engines from the previous year,” said Rep. Long. “I know our state will continue to benefit from this program when it is reauthorized.”

According to the EPA, almost 10 million older diesel engines operate around the country with no modern emissions controls. The DERA program provides rebates and grant funding to replace these vehicles and engines with equipment that meets or exceeds current emissions standards.

Rep. Calvert noted that House passage of H.R. 1768 “continues Congress’ commitment to clean air.”

“I have been a longtime advocate for the life-saving benefits provided by the EPA’s Clean Diesel Program,” Rep. Calvert said. “Getting older diesel engines off our roads results in tangible health impacts throughout our communities, especially for the elderly and our children. These are important federal investments that are leveraged with non-federal funds to make a real difference.”