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Press Release

For Immediate Release
Contact: Sean C. Bonyun
May 26, 2009
(202) 225-3761

Upton: Cash for Clunkers Bill will Invigorate Auto Sales and Save Michigan Jobs
Upton urges immediate consideration of scrappage legislation to jumpstart region’s economy

Niles, MI - Congressman Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph), co-chair of the Congressional Auto Caucus, today joined car dealers in Vicksburg and Niles to urge swift consideration of “cash for clunkers” legislation to spur new vehicle sales. Last Tuesday during debate of climate legislation, Upton’s committee adopted a car scrappage amendment by a vote of 50 to 4 that mirrored the agreement struck by the President and congressional leaders on May 5th. With the climate debate expected to last several months, Upton had urged the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee to move the bill separately and have it promptly considered on its own by the full House. On Thursday, May 21st, the car scrappage amendment was introduced as a stand alone bill in the House (H.R. 2640) and Senate (S. 1135).

“‘Cash for clunkers’ will immediately invigorate domestic auto sales and jumpstart our region’s overall economy, helping put Michigan and the auto industry on the road to recovery,” said Upton. “Folks would much rather be working and paying taxes than be unemployed and drawing benefits – and ‘cash for clunkers’ will help keep folks on payrolls across the region. This concept has worked abroad with great success. Here at home, the car scrappage bill will help serve as an engine to Michigan’s economic revival, getting folks back in the showroom buying cars again. There is broad bipartisan support for ‘cash for clunkers’ to provide a needed boost to all of our local suppliers and dealers, lend some peace of mind to all our folks who work in the auto industry, and give a helping hand to working families in the market for a new car.”

H.R. 2640 has strong bipartisan support from Michigan’s congressional delegation. In addition to Upton, Reps. Dave Camp (R-4), John Conyers (D-14), John Dingell (D-15), Dale Kildee (D-5), Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-13), Sandy Levin (D-12), Thad McCotter (R-11), Candice Miller (R-10), Gary Peters (D-9), Mike Rogers (R-8) and Bart Stupak (D-1) have all signed onto the bill.

“This is an excellent incentive to help drive car sales,” said Scott Tyler, President of Tyler Automotive in Niles, of the pending scrappage measure before Congress.

Under the legislation, consumers may trade in their older, gas-guzzling vehicles and receive vouchers worth up to $4,500 to help pay for new, more fuel-efficient cars and trucks. The program will be authorized for up to one year and provide for approximately one million new car or truck purchases. Customers would trade in a car that has been registered and in use for at least a year, and has a federal combined city/highway fuel-economy rating of 18 or fewer miles per gallon. If you buy a new car, priced at $45,000 or less and rated at least 4 mpg better than the old one, you’ll get a $3,500 voucher. If the new vehicle gets at least 10 mpg better, you’ll consumers will receive the full $4,500. Vehicle mileage ratings back to 1985 can be found at www.fueleconomy.gov.

Click here to view a chart detailing the bill (Cash_for_clunkers_chart.ppt).

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