[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 12, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1794-S1795]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CARPER (for himself, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. 
        Whitehouse, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Booker, Mrs. Capito, Mrs. 
        Gillibrand, Mr. Cramer, and Mr. Van Hollen):
  S. 747. A bill to reauthorize the diesel emissions reduction program, 
and for other purposes; to the Committee on Environment and Public 
Works.
  Mr. CARPER. Mr. President, I rise to talk about the Diesel Emissions 
Reduction Act of 2019, or DERA, which I am introducing today with 
Senators Inhofe, Barrasso, Whitehouse, Sullivan, Booker, Capito, 
Gillibrand, Cramer and Van Hollen.
  In today's hearing, we will be focusing on legislation that 
reauthorizes a program that is near and dear to my heart--the Diesel 
Emissions Reduction Act, or DERA. I would like to say thank you to my 
DERA co-pilot, Senator Inhofe. Senator Inhofe has been a staunch 
supporter of DERA since day one. I greatly appreciate his continued 
support and the hard work of his staff on this legislation. I also 
thank our cosponsors from last Congress who have joined us again this 
year, Chairman Barrasso and Senator Whitehouse. Chairman Barrasso and 
his staff teamed up with us last Congress to make DERA work even 
better, and I appreciate his strong support. I also would like to say 
thank you to our new cosponsors this year, Senators Sullivan, Booker, 
Capito, Gillibrand, Cramer and Van Hollen.
  In all my years of public service, it's not every day that I've seen 
programs that generate this much bipartisan support--but, then again, 
not many programs are as effective and commonsense as DERA.
  Our Nation still relies heavily on diesel power to transport 
commuters and kids, harvest our crops and build our infrastructure. 
Today diesel engines are found everywhere, from our schools to our 
ports, and from our highways to our agricultural fields.
  Many of my colleagues have heard me say that the great thing about 
diesel engines is that they last a long time. And the bad thing about 
diesel engines is that they last a long time. Diesel engines are 
reliable and efficient, but older diesel engines are big polluters. 
Dirty diesel engine emissions are some of the biggest contributors to 
our Nation's smog, soot and black carbon air pollution. These dirty 
diesel emissions harm our health and our climate.
  Because of smart emission standards, new and retrofitted diesel 
engines using American technology are now much cleaner than older 
diesel engines--over 90% cleaner. Unfortunately, diesel engines run 
forever and there is little incentive for a diesel engine owner to 
replace an engine before it breaks down. That's why today, more than a 
decade after diesel emission standards were implemented by the EPA, 
millions of older diesel engines that lack the latest pollution control 
technology are still in use and will remain in use for decades to come.

[[Page S1795]]

  Back in 2005, my very good friend, the late-Senator from Ohio, George 
Voinovich, came to me with an idea to help solve this problem--he came 
to me with the idea for DERA. Senator Voinovich said to me, let's 
provide financial incentives for people to replace or retrofit their 
older diesel engines with American-made clean vehicle technology. He 
told me that we can dramatically reduce diesel emissions, protect our 
health and create jobs here at home. I said ``Sign me up!'' And I've 
been DERA's strongest supporter ever since. In 2005, Congress passed 
DERA faster than I think we've passed any EPA program ever before. This 
simple idea has turned into one of EPA's most effective clean air 
program on the books today.
  For every dollar spent in the DERA program, our Nation sees $13 in 
economic and health benefits. The emission reductions have helped 
States meet clean air standards and resulted in more than $12.6 billion 
in health benefits alone since the program's inception.
  From requests for electric school buses, to replacement ferry 
engines, to simple diesel retrofits, EPA tells us that the requests 
keep coming in--but, unfortunately, funding for DERA far exceeds the 
program's available funds. With millions of dirty diesel engines on our 
roads, DERA is as important today as it was when it first started. Now, 
we must work together to ensure that every State, Tribe and territory 
can still benefit from this unique program.
  At a time when our Nation is looking for ways to create jobs, have 
healthier air and a better climate, cleaning up dirty diesel engines 
through DERA stands out as a prime example of what works.
  Today, I'm proud to continue the bipartisan tradition that started 
more than 15 years ago with my good friend, Senator Voinovich. I look 
forward to working with my colleagues to pass reauthorization of DERA 
this Congress.
  Thank you Mr. President.
                                 ______