Steve Grodin

U.S. Senate Bill Would Fund Scrappage Programs Nationwide

A bill (S. 1766) has been introduced in the U.S. Senate containing a
provision (Section 803) that would federally fund state scrappage programs
for vehicles over 15 years old. Owners who turn in vehicles for crushing
would receive a “minimal” payment and a future credit toward purchasing a
newer vehicle, all in a misguided attempt to improve the overall fuel
economy of the country’s vehicle fleet. This bill represents the most
formidable Federal legislative threat to the vehicle hobby in many years.

Oppose the Use of U.S. Taxpayer Dollars for Scrappage

· Section 803 of S. 1766 would give states that don’t currently operate
scrappage programs an extra incentive to create a program due to generous
federal funding.

· Section 803 of S. 1766 requires that federally funded state scrappage
programs crush every car. It threatens enthusiasts nationwide with the loss
of valuable parts and parts-cars for repair, restoration, and customization
projects.

· Section 803 of S. 1766 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.

· Section 803 of S. 1766 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.

· 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.

· Section 803 of S. 1766 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 of S. 1766 ignores more socially responsible and
cost-effective policy options like voluntary vehicle repair and upgrade
programs that maximize the fuel efficiency of existing vehicles.
.
Contact Your U.S. Senators to Oppose Section 803 of S. 1766

Protect American vehicle enthusiasts and low-income drivers. To find out who
your U.S. Senators are, call the SEMA Washington, D.C. office at
202-783-6007 or access this information via the Internet at http://www.enjoythedrive.com/legisla...egislator.asp. For assistance in
turning this alert into a letter to your Senator, consult the SEMA document
"How to Lobby Elected Officials." This guide is available at http://www.enjoythedrive.com/san.

Please fax a copy of your letters to us at 202/783-6024 or mail to:

SEMA Washington Office
1317 F St., NW, Ste. 500
Washington, D.C. 20004
Attn: Brian Caudill/ Steve McDonald

Dalannex

Thank you. I will e-mail my senators and reps, again. :D They must be getting sick of me by now, but hey, that's what great about this country. We can do that kind of thing. Remember that one of my "elected officials" is South Dakota Communist Tom Daschle. He and I just don't see eye to eye. Off I go to pull his email address out of the old list.

paso

How'd he feel getting a letter from a cannuck:) Heh! us selfish restorers need the parts down there.:)

Anar76

Hey when does this bill come up for the final vote ?
like... how much time do we have to write our senators and stuff ?

Steve Grodin

S.1766
Sponsor: Sen Daschle, Thomas A.(introduced 12/5/2001)
Related Bills: H.R.2436
Latest Major Action: 12/6/2001 Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 259.
Title: A bill to provide for the energy security of the Nation, and for other purposes.

I don't know when it comes up for a final vote. If you feel like writing your Senator I suggest you do so as soon as you can.

1976C3

Please explain the problem this creates?

I mean no ill but my ignorance to the side effects out way my opossing this.
It is on a owners decision that they can:

1. Owner can keep the car.
2. Owner can scrap the car.

The USA alone is littered with old p.o.s cars that ppl just park in there back yards etc... I can not fathom someone taking a old vette to be scrapped unless they simply did not want anyone else to have it, and if such then I doubt it could have been bought in the 1st place.

The impact on parts/hoopdie rides for poor ppl? Well I for one doubt someone with a car worth 2 cents will hit the scrap pile, however those old 1972 Ford LTD's that use more oil than gas might be recycled into something useful.

I guess my point is, Life is full of trade off's. And if one less p.o.s is sitting in my neighbors yard than YAY! If someone spitefully decides to scrap a 65 vette rather than sell it, then so be it! Its their money/stupidity not mine.

Dalannex

I see your point, however I don't think it is the government's (i.e. our tax dollars) job to subsidize the purchase of new cars. Nor is it the role of the government to manage programs that label what cars are too old to be on the road and what aren't.

Techno

I don't understand the 15 year thing. This means a car built in '86 is not fuel efficient? I thought they were. and to make it worse in 2017 that would mean this years cars are not fuel efficient.
The loss in gas taxes would mean they would make another law because we wouldn't be consuming enough gas and thus not paying enough taxes to the 30 or so groups that get it.

Does this mean a car from '32 would be dragged out of the field and scrapped even though it is unlikely that it would be re-built with an origonal engine? And of course our taxs pay this guy for it.

PRNDL

This misguided law will create an instant market for stolen old cars. It has also been shown that the financial incentives will not be remotely sufficient to allow the drivers of POS old smoking clunkers to buy a new fuel efficient car.

I have an alternative proposal that will serve the special interests (scrap yard owners) and make a real difference in the nation's energy consumption:

I propose providing a $2000 per vehicle bounty for anyone turning in their fuel guzzling SUV of any year (average mileage 14 mpg) and purchasing a midsize or smaller vehicle (average mileage 26.8 mpg). The SUVs would be crushed and never seen again. Do the math: Replace 5mm SUVs, averaging 15,000 miles per year increasing mileage by 12.8 mpg...... The air would clean up, gas prices would drop to 57 cents per gallon. If they really wanted to do even the slightest thing about energy consmption and air pollution they would at least remove the financial incentives in favor of buying trucks (luxury tax and gas guzzler tax). MJ

thejaf

Just emailed my senators:

Just another voter here opposing Section 803 of the bill 1766 that is being introduced to the US Senate. From what I understand 3rd party, this provision awards those states and individuals who voluntarily scrap cars older than 15 years under the pretense of "fuel efficiency."

As an owner of several old Corvettes and Mercedes, I can state that these cars average better mileage than any new Ford F-150, Dodge Ram, Ford Expedition, etc. And if emissions are a concern, there are many tuning tips that collectors know that can greatly improve the emission output of older cars.

Sincerely,

Anar76

You also have to think about the fact that people just dont know what they have.
some old lady retires, decides to buy a new car, trades in her 72 caprice classic wagon with a 454 for some credit.
required to be scrapped : there's one less 454 for the guy searching for a find.