Crowley, Maloney Hail Passage Of Energy Bill

A landmark energy bill, which received final passage last week and which increases fuel economy standards for vehicles and increased use of alternative fuels, will also provide funding for transportation projects in New York City, such as the JFK Airport rail link.

Congressmember Joseph Crowley said the measure brings the much-needed JFK project "one step closer to reality".

Crowley (D- Queens/The Bronx) explained: "The legislation we passed will allow the city to use $2 billion in leftover Liberty Zone bonds to connect Manhattan, Brooklyn and Long Island to JFK Airport. This important investment will reduce traffic congestion and pollution, spur economic development, create jobs in the city, and save commuters time- allowing them to get home earlier for dinner with their families."

As for the bill's environmental benefits, Crowley said it "redoubles our nation's efforts to achieve energy independence by requiring cars and trucks to be more fuel efficient, by promoting green building and by improving mass transit".

The bill increases fuel efficiency of vehicles to 35 miles per hour by the year 2020, and is the first increase in this standard in a generation, Crowley said. That provision had strong support from environmentalists and the automobile industry. The lawmaker said that the estimated savings to America's families will be up to $1,000 a year and greenhouse gases will be reduced by the equivalent of taking 28 million vehicles off the road by 2020.

Congressmember Carolyn Maloney (D- Queens/Manhattan) hailed passage of the bill, saying it would help struggling families by bringing energy costs down, fuel the economy by creating thousands of new jobs and strengthen national security by reducing U.S. dependence on foreign oil. "This landmark legislation is a win-win all around," Maloney declared.

- John Toscano