Emergency appropriation will help Kentuckians purchase fuel-efficient vehicles

            WASHINGTON (July 31, 2009)—Congressman Ben Chandler, as a member of the House Appropriations Committee, pushed for emergency legislation this morning to fund the cash for clunkers program, helping finance the purchase of fuel-efficient cars. This legislation passed the House this afternoon. 

            “I have heard from a number of people in the district about this program and how it is helping our Central Kentucky families, and we just have to keep it going,” Chandler said.  “This program benefits our country in so many ways: it stimulates our economy, it helps our auto manufacturers, parts suppliers, and dealers, but most importantly it allows people to trade in their expensive gas-guzzlers—saving families money in the long run and reducing our dependence on oil.”

            The cash for clunkers program, or the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS), is a government program offering $3,500 or $4,500 for the exchange of an older car to put toward the purchase a new, more fuel-efficient vehicle.  Congress passed this legislation last month to increase auto sales and reduce the number of inefficient cars and trucks on American roads.

            The $2 billion emergency supplemental appropriation, H.R. 3435, passed the House of Representatives today.  Chandler is an original co-sponsor. Funding for the program will come from a Department of Energy fund, and since this money is being reallocated from an existing source, it will result in no additional government spending.

            The original $1-billion-dollar program was so popular that its funds were depleted much more quickly than anticipated.  As of July 29, 2009, 22,782 vehicles had been purchased through CARS, and nearly 200,000 more are in the final stages of approval.

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