[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 17]
[House]
[Page 22985]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           HUMMER FOR HYBRID

  (Mr. BLUMENAUER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, for years I've been fighting to 
eliminate a perverse provision in the tax code that actually provided 
an incentive, a tax break for purchasing the largest, most expensive 
gas guzzlers, luxury cars weighing over 6,000 pounds. This perverse 
incentive, hence, the nickname, the ``Hummer Loophole,'' has resisted 
action for change and has retained its position.
  This year, we have, in fact, taken action, not just to close the 
Hummer Loophole, but to extend benefits to lighter, more fuel-efficient 
cars and vans for business, while we use some of the savings to create 
a tax benefit for plug-in hybrids.
  Trading Hummers for hybrids. Another important reason to vote for the 
renewable energy and conservation tax package coming forward today to 
help us meet the most serious environmental, economic and national 
security challenges, help us fight global warming, and promote energy 
efficiency.

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