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Our effort to prevent Congress from including a
nationwide “Cash for Clunkers” program in the
economic stimulus package has been successful – so
far. Thousands of SEMA members and SEMA Action
Network (SAN) enthusiasts contacted House Speaker
Nancy Pelosi in opposition to the plan. The
Speaker’s Office informed us that your emails, calls
and faxes were received and, thanks to your work,
Cash for Clunkers was not included in the economic
stimulus package introduced in mid-January in the
House of Representatives. Unfortunately, new
legislation (S. 247 and H.R. 520) has been
introduced in Congress to create a national vehicle
scrappage program which will give U.S. tax dollars
to consumers who turn-in their “gas guzzlers” to
have them crushed. Lawmakers need to scrap this
idea!
Contact Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Rep.
Henry Waxman (D-CA) Immediately
to Oppose S. 247 and H.R. 520
The so-called “Accelerated Retirement of Inefficient
Vehicles Act” is Cash for Clunkers with a twist.
Instead of focusing exclusively on older cars, this
program would target vehicles with low fuel economy
ratings of any model year. Participants would
receive cash vouchers ranging from $2,500 to $4,500
based on the model year and whether the replacement
vehicle was a more fuel-efficient new car or used
car (MY 2004 or later). Fuel-efficient is defined as
getting at least 25 percent better mileage for the
corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) target for its
class. The bill sponsors want to scrap up to one
million cars a year for at least four years.
There is no evidence that the program would achieve
the goal of boosting new car sales or increasing
fuel mileage. Many states have considered scrappage
programs in the past as a way to help clean the air
or increase mpg, but abandoned the effort because
they simply don’t work. The programs are not
cost-effective and do not achieve verifiable air
quality or fuel economy benefits, but they do have a
devastating impact on the many small businesses that
market products and services for the scrapped cars.
Don’t Delay! Please contact Senator Diane Feinstein
and Rep. Henry Waxman today to urge their opposition
to S. 247 and H.R. 520. For those who responded to
our first call for action, we need you again, along
with everyone else.
Contact Sen. Dianne Feinstein to oppose S. 247
Click here to send an email:
Diane Feinstein
Call:
(202) 224-3841
Fax: (202) 228-3954
Contact Henry Waxman to oppose HR 520
Click here to send an email:
Henry Waxman
Call: (202) 225-2927
Fax: (202) 225-2525
Talking Points
Oppose the Use of U.S. Taxpayer Dollars for
Accelerated Vehicle Retirement
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I am writing to urge lawmakers not to approve an
“accelerated vehicle retirement” program. Even
on a voluntary basis, the program will hurt
thousands of independent repair shops, auto
restorers, customizers and their customers
across the country that depend on the used car
market. These businesses are already very
vulnerable in the weak economy.
-
An accelerated vehicle retirement program is
flawed since it does not target the “gross
polluter,” an improperly maintained vehicle of
any make or model year that has poor fuel
mileage and dramatically more emissions due to
poor maintenance.
-
An accelerated vehicle retirement program is
flawed because it does not factor-in how many
miles-a-year the collected vehicles are
currently being driven. U.S. taxpayers will be
buying rarely-driven second and third vehicles
that have minimal impact on overall fuel economy
and air pollution.
-
Accelerated vehicle retirement won’t generate
many new car sales. The cash incentive provided
will not be enough to enable a person to buy a
new or used vehicle.
-
Accelerated vehicle retirement will compete with
nonprofits that rely on vehicle donations to
raise funds, such as the Salvation Army, the
Purple Heart and other charities.
-
Accelerated vehicle retirement threatens to
disrupt a large and complex industry which
already handles scrappage, repair,
remanufacturing and recycling issues. This
independent industry provides thousands of
American jobs and generates millions of dollars
in local, state and federal tax revenues.
-
Accelerated vehicle retirement ignores better
policy options. Taxpayer dollars would be better
spent as direct tax incentives to purchase a
fuel-efficient new or used car, without a
government vehicle crushing program. Congress
should also provide tax incentives to upgrade,
repair and maintain existing cars, trucks and
SUVs. There are many commercially available
products and technologies that can substantially
improve fuel mileage and lower the emissions.
-
We hope we can count on you to reject
“Accelerated Vehicle Retirement.” Thank you for
your consideration on this very important
matter.
If you choose to send a note and/or message to Sen.
Feinstein and Rep. Waxman please forward a copy of
your message to:
E-mail:
briand@sema.org |
