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House approves Diesel Emissions Reduction Act

WASHINGTON — The Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) now just needs President Barack Obama’s signature for the bipartisan legislation to be reauthorized for five more years. The House approved DERA by a voice vote Tuesday.

The U.S. Senate had unanimously approved the legislation on December 16.  The president is expected to sign the reauthorization into law.

“Passage of the DERA reauthorization will play a major role in our nation’s effort to expand our clean air initiatives,” said Allen Schaeffer, the executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum (DTF). “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.”

DERA (H.R. 5809) is a five-year reauthorization of the 2005 program created to establish voluntary national and state-level grant and loan programs to reduce diesel emissions by upgrading and modernizing older diesel engines and equipment.

DERA is being supported by a coalition of more than 500 environmental, health, industry, labor and government organizations, DTF said.

Kevin Jones of The Trucker staff can be reached for comment at [email protected] .

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