Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow and Congressman Gary Peters say the government should do more to help the auto industry mass-produce fuel-efficient technologies.
The two Democrats were at Bosch auto supplier headquarters in suburban Detroit today to urge Congressional support for the Advanced Vehicle Technology Act.
The bill would authorize $300 million a year for private sector fuel-efficiency research.
Peters says "this is just the right thing to do" with Michigan gas prices at record highs:
"You’re going to hear a lot of ideas about drilling and other types of ideas, but really the best idea is to push the technology," said Peters. "Push innovation. And that’s what we do here in the Detroit area better than anybody else in the world, and that’s innovate with vehicles and automobiles."
Peters says the legislation has support from both environmental and business groups.
The bill passed the U.S. House with bipartisan support last year, but it couldn’t get through the Senate.
