ATA Will Announce Support for Bipartisan Energy Plan

    ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 21 /EMWNews/ -- The American

Trucking Associations today will announce its support for a bipartisan

comprehensive energy bill that calls for domestic oil drilling, tax

incentives and alternative energy research to lower the price of fuel for

the nation's 3.5 million truck drivers and American consumers.



    ATA First Vice Chairman Charles "Shorty" Whittington and professional

truck driver Tony Sifford will speak about the need for action on energy

issues at a press conference held at 12 CST by U.S. Rep. Nick Lampson

(D-Texas) at ATA's National Truck Driving Championships in Houston, Texas.



    If enacted, The National Conservation, Environment, and Energy

Independence Act would enhance the United States' path toward energy

independence and security by increasing the production of domestic energy

sources as well as dedicating funds to renewable energy research and

development.



    The trucking industry is experiencing the highest prolonged fuel prices

in history. For most motor carriers, fuel has surpassed labor as their

largest expense. It currently costs $1,400 to fill a typical tractor

trailer's fuel tanks. Fuel cost increases ultimately increase the cost of

everything delivered by truck.



    HR 6709 is cosponsored by Reps. John E. Peterson (R-Pa.), Neil

Abercrombie (D-Hawaii), Jim Costa (D- Calif.), Dan Burton (R-Ind.), Gene

Green (D-Texas), Henry E. Brown, Jr. (R-S.C.), Nick Lampson (D-Texas), Rob

Bishop (R-Utah), Tim Walz (D-Minn.), Robin Hayes, (R-N.C.), Bill Foster

(D-Ill.), Shelly Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Dan Boren (D-Okla.), Thelma Drake

(R-Va.), Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), Tim Murphy (R-Pa.), Jason Altmire

(D-Pa.), Adrian Smith (R-Neb.), Mike McIntyre (D-N.C.), Bill T. Sali

(R-Idaho), Nancy Boyda (D-Kan.), Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.), Solomon P. Ortiz

(D-Texas), Harold Rogers (R-Ky.), Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-S.D.), Jack

Kingston (R-Ga.), Tim Holden (D-Pa.), Jeff Miller ( R-Fla.), Don Cazayoux

(D-La.), Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.), John Barrow (D-Ga.), Joe Wilson (R-S.C.),

Paul E. Kanjorski (D-Pa.), John Kline. (R-Minn.), Jim Marshall (D-Ga.),

John L. Mica (R-Fla.), Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.), Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.),

Lincoln Davis (D-Tenn.), Lee Terry (R-Neb.), Patrick J. Murphy (D-Pa.),

Mark E. Souder (R-Ind.), Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-Ga.), Mike Pence

(R-Ind.), Charlie Melancon (D-La.), Paul C. Broun (R-Ga.), Roscoe Bartlett

(R-Md.), and Gene Taylor (D-Miss.).



    The American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade

association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of other

trucking groups, industry-related conferences, and its 50 affiliated state

trucking associations, ATA represents more than 37,000 members covering

every type of motor carrier in the United States.