Found this on a 4x4 list I'm on. Senate Bill S1766 the "Energy Policy Act of
2002" would negatively impact older vehicle owners and enthusiasts. See
http://www.senate.gov/ to read the section of the bill and to contact your
senators.
Title VIII defines a program to fund states so they can provide monetary
inscentives to owners of cars and trucks 15 or more years old to scrap their
vehicles and upgrade to more fuel efficient vehicles (an attempt to raise the
overall Average Fuel Efficiency of vehicles).
Consider that the manufacture of new vehicles is not energy and resource free.
Also, the cost of owning a new car includes higher insurance, licensing,
taxes, maintenance, repair costs than older cars. If the rate of car
scrapping increases, the rate of car crushing must increase too; the result is
a shortage of recyclable parts that enthusiasts and cost conscious car owners
depend on. Though it would be nice to reduce our national fuel usage, we must
look at the entire picture rather than jumping at the first non-solution that
looks good at first glance.
You can change the form letter at the bottom to reflect your own vehicle
ownership and opinions.
If you agree that mass scrapping of old cars isn't a good thing, PLEASE take
fifteen minutes and write or phone your senators! It's easy-- go to the
website, get their email address or phone number.
If we don't fight to preserve our livelihood and hobbies, we have nothing to
complain about when everything we like or need to do is made effectively
impossible or illegal.
Read on...
>> Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2001 16:42:12 -0500
>> From: mpolkkidodge@netscape.net
>> Subject: fsj: Senate Bill 1776- Pay to Crush Older Vehicles
>> Another scrappage program has been proposed by congress. Scrappage
>> programs
>> destroy perfectly good vehicles, which could be used for wheeling or for
>> parts. In the end it makes your hobby more expensive.
>>
>> If you have the money to burn don't bother calling to protest Title
>> VIII of Senate Bill 1766.
>>
>> Below is a form letter you may use to oppose Title VIII of Senate
>> Bill 1766.
>> The bill (Energy Act of 2002) was introduced on 12/06/01 by Sen. Thomas
>> Daschle and co-sponsored by Sen. Jeff Bingaman. Sections 802 and 803 of
>> Title VIII develop a state program funded by federal money to scrap
>> running
>> vehicles and offer financial incentives to encourage people to
>> turn-in older
>> vehicles and purchase new vehicles in an attempt to raise CAFE
>> standards.
>> In the past, federal programs and other bills which would increase CAFE
>> standards have been opposed. As CAFE standards are increased new four
>> wheel
>> drive vehicles (SUVs and light trucks) become more expensive.
>> Furthermore,
>> state scrappage programs make it difficult to find replacement parts for
>> many older vehicles we use for fourwheeling. State scrappage programs
>> such
>> as the one outlined in this bill will make replacement parts for your
>> Jeeps,
>> Land Cruisers, Bronco's, etc. more difficult to find.
>>
>> To find out who your U.S. Senators are, call the SEMA Washington, D.C.
>> office at 202-783-6007, myself at 757-482-4474, or access this
>> information
>> via the Internet at
>> http://www.enjoythedrive.com/legislative/contact_legislator.asp.
>
December 18, 2001
Dear Senator _________,
I am writing to you today to ask you to oppose Title VIII of Senate
Bill 1766. Many Americans are concerned with energy conservation.
However, Title VIII does not accomplish energy conservation and is
detrimental to many Americans. Sections 802 and 803 of the bill proposes
to increase the average fuel economy of motor vehicles by funding state
programs with federal money. Similar increases in average fuel economy
of motor vehicles through federal programs has been opposed by Congress
and their constituents. For most drivers, our cars and trucks are our
livelihoods, or at least a critical part of how we earn our living. And
they are a crucial part of our family life, as we drive our kids around
to all their activities and use our vehicles for recreation. Section 802
would make it difficult to find replacement parts by scrapping vehicles
similar to those we currently drive. We oppose government efforts to
make our vehicles smaller, less versatile, more dangerous, and more
expensive, all of which happens when the average fuel economy of motor
vehicles is increased and scrappage programs are instituted. Should
Title VIII of Senate Bill 1766 become law the used vehicles we rely on
for replacement parts will be crushed and scrapped. Section 803 does not
require states to determine the fuel efficiency of vehicles being
scrapped or that scrapped vehicles are being replaced by more
fuel-efficient vehicles. It ignores the fact that cars turned in for
scrappage often barely run or are rarely driven second or third vehicles
that have a minimal impact on overall fuel economy. Further, Section 803
of S. 1766 will diminish the availability of affordable transportation
and repair parts to low-income drivers as more and more older cars are
crushed. It does not guarantee that low-income individuals will be able
to afford to purchase new vehicles, let alone more fuel efficient
vehicles, with the money provided by scrappage programs. Section 803
ignores more socially responsible and cost-effective policy options like
voluntary vehicle repair and upgrade programs that maximize the fuel
efficiency of existing vehicles. Thank you for looking into this matter
on my behalf. It is my earnest desire that you oppose Title VIII of
Senate Bill 1766.
Sincerely,
(Name)
(address)
---
Michael Shimniok - KC0EKI
1968 Datsun 2000, Silver
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