The Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) now just needs President Obama's signature for the bipartisan legislation to be reauthorized for five more years as the U.S. House of Representatives approved DERA this morning by a voice vote.

The U.S. Senate had unanimously approved the legislation on December 16th. President Obama is expected to sign the reauthorization into law.

"Today's passage of DERA is a significant environmental and political accomplishment for the U.S. Congress. The House and Senate have proved that bipartisanship can be attained on major environmental initiatives," said Allen Schaeffer, the Executive Director of the Diesel Technology Forum.

"Passage of the DERA reauthorization will play a major role in our nation's effort to expand our clean air initiatives. In its first five years, DERA has proven to be one of the nation's most successful clean air programs. In addition, DERA has provided an average of $20 worth of environmental and health benefits for every $1 spent. That's a tremendous return on investment for any federal program."

DERA (H.R. 5809) is a five-year reauthorization of the highly-successful program created in 2005 to establish voluntary national and state-level grant and loan programs to reduce diesel emissions by upgrading and modernizing older diesel engines and equipment. The bipartisan legislation was introduced on November 18th by U.S. Senators George Voinovich (R-OH) and Tom Carper (D-DE) and cosponsored by several of their colleagues including Environment and Public Works Committee Chair, Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Ranking Membe, James Inhofe (R-OK). The House sponsors were U.S. Reps. Doris Matsui (D-CA) and Laura Richardson (D-CA).

More info: Diesel Technology Forum.