September 9, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 143 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Pages H7541-H7543]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 DIESEL EMISSIONS REDUCTION ACT OF 2019

  Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 1768) to reauthorize subtitle G of title VII of the Energy Policy 
Act of 2005, relating to diesel emissions reduction, and for other 
purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1768

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Diesel Emissions Reduction 
     Act of 2019''.

     SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION.

       Section 797(a) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 
     16137(a)) is amended by striking ``2016'' and inserting 
     ``2024''.

[[Page H7542]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Rush) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.


                             General Leave

  Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on this bill, H.R. 1768.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Matsui).
  Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, the 
Diesel Emissions Reduction Act, otherwise known as DERA, and I urge my 
colleagues to support this critically important and bipartisan 
legislation.
  The mission of the EPA DERA program is simple: reduce air pollution, 
improve public health, and make our communities better places to live 
and raise a family. That is why this commonsense program has 
continually garnered broad bipartisan support since it was first 
proposed.
  The reason for that is equally simple: DERA gets results and saves 
taxpayer dollars in the long run. By replacing or retrofitting older 
and dirtier diesel engines, the program has made meaningful strides in 
boosting public health, reducing air pollution, and improving the 
quality of life in communities across the country.
  Over the last 10 years, the EPA has awarded over $600 million in 
funds, and those dollars are making the difference. Over 67,000 engines 
have been retrofitted or replaced. We have saved nearly $20 billion in 
realized health costs. We have prevented millions of tons of carbon 
monoxide and particulate matter from entering our air, and we have 
saved over 450 million gallons of fuel at the pump.
  Mr. Speaker, that is why we need to continue authorizing the DERA 
program, so that it can continue to do its great work for years to 
come.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank my friends and colleagues, Congressman Lowenthal 
from California, Congressman Long from Missouri, and Congressman 
Wittman from Virginia, for coleading this bill with me and for helping 
usher it to the floor.
  My duty to my constituents is to fight for cleaner air and cleaner 
communities. In fact, we all owe that to those we serve.
  Mr. Speaker, as we prepare to vote on the Diesel Emissions Reduction 
Act, I ask my colleagues to support my bill and this critically 
important EPA program.
  Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I might 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill, H.R. 1768, the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act 
of 2019, is a bipartisan bill. It was introduced by my Energy and 
Commerce colleagues, Ms. Matsui, who just spoke, and Mr. Long, along 
with Mr. Lowenthal and Mr. Wittman.
  The bill simply, but importantly, reauthorizes the DERA program 
through 2024.
  This program was established by the Energy Policy Act of 2005. It is 
a voluntary program, administered by the EPA, that helps fund the 
retrofit or replacement of existing heavy-duty diesel vehicles, 
engines, and equipment with cleaner diesel or new technology.
  According to EPA's data, nearly 10 million older diesel vehicles are 
operating throughout our transportation infrastructure with no modern 
emission controls. The DERA funding and rebates help replace these 
vehicles with equipment that meets or surpasses current emissions 
standards.
  The majority of program spending targets areas that are not meeting 
air quality standards for particulate matter and other pollutants, 
including at ports and freight-distribution centers and in numerous 
communities reliant on legacy diesel engines, such as school buses and 
other vehicles.
  The Federal and State grants and other assistance under this program 
resulted in cleaner, more efficient vehicles, and the net effect is 
cleaner air in cities and communities that, in fact, need it the most.
  As EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler notes, this is an effective and 
innovative program to improve air quality across the country. In fact, 
DERA funding has proven a cost-effective tool to help communities meet 
their air quality implementation plans.
  Congress has long supported this program, which it first reauthorized 
in 2010 with strong bipartisan support and even after that 
authorization expired in 2016. This bill will ensure the good work to 
advance cleaner technology will, in fact, continue.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Diesel Emissions 
Reduction Act of 2019.
  This legislation, introduced by my colleague on the Energy and 
Commerce Committee, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Matsui), will 
reduce harmful emissions and improve air quality in our Nation's 
communities by incentivizing upgrades or replacements of millions of 
diesel engines currently in use across our Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, diesel engines play an important role in the American 
economy, helping bring children to school and transport goods all 
across our country, while supporting jobs across the Nation.
  Retrofitting older diesel engines that emit significant amounts of 
exhaust with cleaner, American-made technology is an easy initiative to 
support.
  The Diesel Emissions Reduction Act, also known as DERA, has enjoyed 
overwhelming bipartisan support, and every State has received funding 
through the program since it was created by Congress nearly 15 years 
ago.

                              {time}  1645

  Since its inception, Mr. Speaker, DERA has been one of the most cost-
effective Federal environmental programs, with up to $30 in return in 
health and economic benefits for every $1 put into the program.
  The program has also been responsible for the creation and retention 
of local U.S. jobs that involve manufacturing, installation, and 
servicing of emissions-related technologies.
  At a time, Mr. Speaker, when our Nation is looking for ways to create 
jobs, protect the health of our communities--especially those who are 
most vulnerable--address climate change and protect the environment, 
supporting this bill, DERA, stands out as a prime example of what 
really works.
  I thank the gentlewoman for her tireless work and for being such a 
tireless advocate for the DERA program, and I strongly urge my 
colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Alabama (Mr. Palmer).
  Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, 
particularly in regard to the fact that I am speaking in opposition.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition. This bill would authorize the 
appropriation of $100 million, annually, for the Diesel Emissions 
Reduction Act. While this may sound like a worthy goal, the devil is 
always in the details.
  Although the EPA touts the program as a way to achieve cost-effective 
emissions, the reality is much different. Funds from this program have 
gone to a number of questionable items, including $750,000 for cherry 
pickers in Utah, $1 million for electrified parking spaces at a truck 
stop in Delaware, and $1.2 million for a new engine and generators for 
a 1950s locomotive in Pennsylvania.
  The President's budget only requests $10 million for this program, 
yet this bill would authorize 10 times that amount. We simply cannot 
continue asking taxpayers to fund a program that wastes their money on 
frivolous projects.
  This program was intended to be a short-term effort to assist States 
and local government in meeting diesel emissions standards but has 
joined a long list of temporary government programs for which there is 
no end in sight.
  The GAO has noted that funding to reduce diesel emissions is 
fragmented across 14 programs at the Department of Energy, the 
Department of Transportation, and the EPA. Surely, we can make due with 
one less.

[[Page H7543]]

  With a national debt exceeding $22 trillion and growing every day, we 
cannot afford to give additional resources to a program that clearly 
duplicates, at least in part, 13 other programs and has a marginal 
impact, at best.
  The authorization for this program expired in 2016, and it should not 
be resurrected.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill.
  Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I just want to make the point that this is an 
authorization that the level of spending will actually be determined by 
the Appropriations Committee, not ours.
  Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a news release from the EPA 
making the point from Administrator Wheeler:

       ``As this report details, the DERA program is an effective 
     and innovative way to improve air quality across the country 
     while providing children with safer, more reliable 
     transportation to and from school,'' said EPA Administrator 
     Andrew Wheeler.
       Nearly 10 million older diesel engines are operating 
     throughout our transportation system.
       DERA has led to cleaner air across the U.S. by reducing 
     emissions:
       472,700 tons of smog-forming nitrogen oxides.
       15,490 tons of particulate matter.
       17,700 tons of hydrocarbon.
       5,089,170 tons of carbon dioxide.

                         [From EPA, 7/25/2019]

 News Releases from Headquarters, Air and Radiation (OAR) EPA Report: 
         Clean Diesel Grants Rack up Major Air, Health Benefits

                         (By EPA Press Office)

       Washington (July 25, 2019)--Grants to clean up or replace 
     older diesel engines under the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act 
     (DERA) have delivered significant health and environmental 
     benefits to communities across America, according to a U.S. 
     Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report released today. 
     DERA, a bipartisan effort authorized by Congress, provides 
     cost-effective reductions of harmful diesel pollution across 
     the U.S. and particularly in areas where air quality is a 
     concern.
       ``As this report details, the DERA program is an effective 
     and innovative way to improve air quality across the country 
     while providing children with safer, more reliable 
     transportation to and from school,'' said EPA Administrator 
     Andrew Wheeler. ``Children's health is a top priority for 
     EPA, and DERA helps fulfill our children's health agenda and 
     commitment to ensure all children can live, learn, and play 
     in healthy and clean environments.''
       Nearly 10 million older diesel engines are operating 
     throughout our transportation infrastructure with no modern 
     emissions controls. While some of these will be retired over 
     time, many will remain in use, polluting America's air for 
     the next 20 years. The DERA program provides rebates and 
     grant funding to replace these vehicles and engines with 
     equipment that meets or exceeds current emissions standards.
       DERA has led to cleaner air across the U.S. by reducing 
     emissions:
       472,700 tons of smog-forming nitrogen oxides.
       15,490 tons of particulate matter (PM).
       17,700 tons of hydrocarbon.
       5,089,170 tons of carbon dioxide.
       Since 2008, DERA has awarded $629 million in funding to 
     replace or retrofit 67,300 legacy diesel engines. EPA 
     estimates that reducing these harmful pollutants will lead to 
     $19 billion in health benefits and 2,300 fewer premature 
     deaths. EPA estimates that for every federal dollar spent, 
     DERA projects generate between $11 and $30 in public health 
     benefits and over $2 in fuel savings.
       The DERA program works to reduce exposure and provide 
     improved air quality in communities where air pollution is of 
     concern, including those near ports, rail yards, and PM and 
     ozone non-attainment areas. Sixty-four percent of projects 
     awarded in fiscal year 2008-2016 were in areas with these air 
     quality concerns.
       The Fourth Report to Congress summarizes the program's 
     accomplishments from fiscal year 2008-2013 and discusses 
     final and estimated results from funding in fiscal year 2014-
     2016.
       For more information on DERA, visit: http://www.epa.gov/
 cleandiesel.
       To access the report, visit https://www.epa.gov/
cleandiesel/clean-diesel-reports-congress.

  Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, this is a program that works. It takes those 
older vehicles off the road. As far as I know, industry supports this. 
It is better for our communities, which is why our committee, under 
both Republican and Democratic chairmen and administrations, has 
supported this, letting the appropriators decide the level of funding 
that it actually prescribes.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues, again on a bipartisan basis, to 
support this, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I want to associate myself with the remarks of 
the gentleman from Michigan, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Diesel 
Emissions Reduction Act, a bill that will reduce diesel emissions and 
protect public health by reauthorizing the EPA's DERA program.
  Emissions from diesel engines are a significant source of our 
nation's greenhouse gas emissions. The EPA has long linked direct 
emissions from these engines to premature deaths, lung cancer, and 
increased risk of asthma.
  Since 2008, DERA has awarded over $600 million in funding to replace 
or retrofit over 65,000 older diesel engines with American-made clean 
diesel technology. The EPA estimates that the cleaner-burning engines 
will reduce 5 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions and lead to $19 
billion in health benefits over the lifetime of the affected engines. 
Additionally, the EPA estimates that for every federal dollar spent, 
DERA projects generate up to $30 in public health benefits and over $2 
in fuel savings.
  It is no wonder that DERA has enjoyed overwhelming bipartisan 
support. The most recent DERA reauthorization passed unanimously in the 
Senate and by voice vote in the House in 2010. While DERA's 
authorization expired in FY 2016, I have been proud to work with 
Representative's Matsui and Barragan to secure robust funding for the 
program.
  With an estimated 40 percent of our nation's heavy-duty diesel 
vehicles operating without clean technology, the DERA program is still 
desperately needed.
  I urge my colleagues to vote yes to reauthorize this popular and 
cost-effective program.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rush) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 1768.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

                          ____________________