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Supplemental Appropriations, Fiscal Year 2009

Floor Speech

Date: July 31, 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Transportation Oil and Gas


Supplemental Appropriations, Fiscal Year 2009

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Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3435, the Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save (CARS) Program, or the ``Cash for Clunkers'' initiative.

This additional $2 billion in funding will help promote automotive sales and protect our environment. In the past week, it is estimated that 250,000 cars were sold. On both sides of the aisle, people acknowledged the effectiveness of this initiative. I am proud to support its extension.

I also ask for special consideration and clarification on an important part of this bill. As it currently stands, if one spouse owns the title to a ``clunker'' and the other spouse holds the registration, that couple is not eligible to participate in the program. I believe that consideration to married couples should be afforded more flexibility and that regardless of the registration/title configuration, those married couples should be able to participate.

Finally, this is a very positive, bipartisan initiative to help our auto industry, to help consumers, to grow our economy, and to do it in an environmentally sound way.

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