Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save Act

Reply from my House Rep about the CARS program.
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Thank you for contacting me with your views on the Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save Act. I appreciate your comments, and I welcome this opportunity to share my thoughts.



In June, the House of Representatives passed the Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save Act, H.R. 2751, introduced by Congresswoman Betty Sutton of Ohio. This legislation established the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS), commonly referred to as Cash for Clunkers, which initially allocated $1 billion for consumers to trade in their old, gas-guzzling vehicles and receive vouchers worth up to $4,500 to help pay for new, more fuel efficient models. Within the program's first week, nearly a quarter million new automobiles have been purchased using Cash for Clunkers rebates, providing a much needed boost to the struggling automobile industry while decreasing the demand for foreign oil.



Given the early success of this program, the House acted quickly to extend it by voting 316-109 to reallocate an additional $2 billion for CARS. This money, however, is not new government spending; rather, it will be reallocated from already-approved American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds.



Cash for Clunkers is a common sense program that will reduce our dependence on foreign oil and help save local jobs. I was proud to support it, and I will continue to look for smart policies that put our country on a permanent path toward energy independence and reduce our addiction to oil. For more information on the CARS program or to see if your car qualifies for a rebate, please visit www.cars.gov.



Thanks again for taking the time to share your views with me. If you would like to learn more about my positions on issues important to you or receive regular updates on developments in Congress, please visit my Online Office at www.ellsworth.house.gov and sign up for my e-Newsletter.

Sincerely,

Brad Ellsworth