WASHINGTON, DC (March 30. 2004) – U.S. Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA) offered an amendment today to the Transportation Reauthorization Bill (H.R. 3550) today in the House Rules Committee to promote the environmentally sound use of hybrid cars. Schiff’s amendment would allow single-occupant hybrid cars to use the car pool lane without requiring localities to charge a toll.
“The car pool lane has been a tremendous success at reducing air pollution and alleviating traffic jams since it was introduced three decades ago,” Rep. Schiff said today. “The idea works because it is a simple tradeoff: more choice for more responsibility. This fledgling technology has great potential, but we need to help it get off the ground. To do this, the Administration and U.S. Senate have proposed providing an incentive of allowing single-occupant hybrid cars to use the car pool lane.
“The House Transportation Reauthorization Bill purports to provide this same incentive, but it also requires state and local governments to charge hybrid drivers a toll. This could effectively kill the very incentive it is trying to create. My amendment today would simply remove the toll requirement and leave the car-pool provision a realistic incentive to buy a hybrid car,” Rep. Schiff added.
Rep. Schiff represents California’s 29th Congressional District, including the communities of Pasadena, Alhambra, Altadena, Burbank, East Pasadena, East San Gabriel, Glendale, Monterey Park, San Gabriel, South Pasadena and Temple City.
For a copy of Rep. Schiff’s testimony before the House Rules Committee, please call (202) 225-4176.