Washington, DC - Congressman John D. Dingell made the following statement in response to Transportation Secretary LaHood’s announcement that the wildly successful Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save (CARS) Act, or “cash for clunkers,” will come to a close on Monday, August 24, 2009, at 8:00 p.m. EST:

“Secretary LaHood’s announcement today that the cash for clunkers program will be suspended is further evidence of its wild success. This overt example of effective government stimulus spending has helped hundreds of thousands of consumers by allowing them to purchase new, more fuel efficient vehicles, which, in turn, will help them save money on fuel costs over the long run. Moreover, at a time of great economic distress, cash for clunkers has stimulated increased production by domestic automakers, putting thousands of idled workers back on the job. This program is also a great step toward prompting our country to decrease its oil consumption and thereby reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions.

“Cash for clunkers is a victim of its own success. The rate of claims for appropriated funds has exceeded our expectations, and as such, decisive action must be taken in order to ensure that dealers are fairly reimbursed for sales they have made using program vouchers. Thus, I commend Secretary LaHood for his announcement today and look forward to working with the Administration in the future on initiatives to promote further economic recovery and environmental stewardship.”

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