Washington, D.C. - This evening, the U.S. Senate voted to infuse an additional $2 billion in funding for Rep. Sutton's CARS Act, also known as the "Cash for Clunkers" program, by a margin of 60-37.  Rep. Sutton (D-OH) is the author of the successful program that passed in the House in June (H.R. 2751).  The program was launched on July 27 and within four days Rep. Sutton received news from Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Ray LaHood that funds were running out due to tremendous support for the program.  As a result, Rep. Sutton worked tirelessly and closely with the Administration, House leadership and her colleagues to ensure that the program received additional funding in the House.  By a margin of 316-109, the House overwhelmingly approved the additional $2 billion on Friday, July 31 (H.R. 3435).  Now that the Senate has acted, it will now go to President Obama for his signature.

The additional $2 billion will be drawn from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

"I am pleased that this program received the additional critical funding it needs to continue to be successful," Rep. Sutton said. "The program has a phenomenal multiplier effect.  It's helping automakers, our parts suppliers, dealers, salesmen, consumers and our economy. The results thus far have been fantastic and demonstrate that the Administration and House and Senate leadership recognize the need to continue funding this very important stimulative program. Across the country dealers have reported a significant uptick in sales and are calling people back to work.  And manufacturing is showing signs of strengthening." 

Auto manufacturers have credited the CARS program for driving up sales in late July.  New-vehicle sales rose last month to the highest level in nearly one year.

"We have never seen a more successful and efficient temporary government program that achieves so much in so little time," said Joseph J. Lee, manager at Ford's Ohio Assembly Plant. "The more than 7,000 Ford employees in Ohio fully appreciate and support Ohio Congresswoman Betty Sutton's efforts to enact and fully fund the Cash for Clunkers program. We believe the Cash for Clunkers program provides huge benefits for the consumers and the economies of both Ohio and the United States."

Eighty-three percent of trade-in vehicles under the CARS program are trucks, and fifty-nine percent of new vehicle purchases are cars, according to DOT reports on August 5. The program has been incredibly effective in replacing old, trucks and SUVs with new, more fuel-efficient cars. New vehicles sold through this program have an improved fuel efficiency of 61 percent, and as a result, consumers will save between $700 and $1,000 per year from fuel savings.

 "Again, I want to really thank Betty Sutton," said DOT Secretary LaHood at a July 27 press conference announcing the commencement of the CARS program. "She has been tenacious in her ability to get this bill through the House of Representatives and to persuade her colleagues of the value of this program. We would not be here today if it weren't for her work and her determination to make this a program for the people and also to really get the car manufacturers back on their feet and really become important players in the economy."

"Our CARS trade-in program has been a lifeline to the American auto industry by boosting the manufacturers, keeping dealerships in business, saving the workers' jobs, and helping Americans buy cars," wrote DOT Secretary LaHood on his blog. "There's no doubt in my mind that this program has been a wild success."

The CARS program was created by the Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save Act of 2009, sponsored by Rep. Sutton.  The program gives consumers vouchers up to $4,500 to purchase newer, more fuel-efficient vehicles. Rep. Sutton introduced the CARS Act in March and worked with the Administration, House and Senate leadership, and her colleagues in the House and Senate to pass the legislation on the House floor in June with a bipartisan vote of 298-119.  The program was included into the Supplemental Appropriations Act and signed by President Obama on June 24, 2009.

For more information, please visit www.sutton.house.gov or www.cars.gov. 

                                                                        ###