DERA Reauthorizing Legislation Introduced, More Than 500 Organizations Urge Passage

On November 18, Senator George Voinovich (R-Ohio) introduced the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) of 2010 with 29 cosponsors to reauthorize this popular program for another five years. On November 9, AGC and several AGC Chapters joined over 500 organizations, including environment, health and public service sectors, in signing and sending a letter to all members of the U.S. House of Representatives asking them to reauthorize the DERA for another five years during the lame duck session of Congress. The legislation makes some improvements to the program, including a provision that would simplify the application process and allow private entities to apply directly to the U.S. EPA for a DERA grant for equipment used on a public project. In the House Thursday, Congresswoman Laura Richardson (D-Calif.) introduced a similar version of the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act, H.R. 6482. Supporters are working to enact the legislation in the remaining weeks of the 111^th Congress, although no action on either bill has yet been scheduled.  If Congress fails to act prior to adjournment, the legislation will have to be reintroduced in the 112^th Congress. For more information, please contact Karen Lapsevic at (202) 547-4733 or lapsevick@agc.org.