Political Quotes

“My amendment is cosponsored by Congresswoman Napolitano and is endorsed by the Natural Gas Vehicles for America, the Electric Drive Transportation Association, and the National Propane Gas Association. The amendment addresses one specific provision in the bill, section 1109, which modifies how Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality, CMAQ, funds can be used in PM2.5 nonattainment and maintenance areas. ``PM'' stands for ``particulate matter.'' The purpose of the CMAQ Program is to fund transportation projects or programs that will contribute to the attainment or maintenance of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. All projects and programs that are eligible for CMAQ funds must come from a conforming Federal or State transportation plan. The program is designed to allow States to identify the right solution for their air quality challenges and utilize CMAQ funds to implement them. Without the Ryan-Napolitano amendment, the language in section 1109 may restrict States' discretion in identifying the most cost-effective emissions reduction technologies and effectively limit their options to only diesel retrofits. Specifically, the priority consideration and use of funding provisions for the section seemingly restrict local authorities' ability to consider other alternative vehicle technologies that can be adopted to meet the goals of this section.…”