ATA applauds House committee’s passage of Diesel Emissions Reduction Act

The American Trucking Associations commended the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Sept. 2 for unanimously passing the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of 2025. 

The bill was introduced by U.S. Reps. Doris Matsui, D-California; Ken Calvert, R-California; Chellie Pingree, D-Maine; and Nick Langworthy, R-New York; and would reauthorize the DERA program through fiscal year 2029 at $100 million annually.  

It will now be considered by the full House of Representatives. 

“For decades, the trucking industry has worked alongside policymakers to advance cleaner technologies and reduce emissions,” said Henry Hanscom, ATA’s chief advocacy and public affairs officer. “As a result of that partnership, truck emissions of NOx and particulate matter have fallen by 99 percent since 1970. DERA has been instrumental in that progress, helping motor carriers invest in the newest, cleanest equipment and accelerate the deployment of proven innovations. We applaud the committee’s unanimous vote to reauthorize this successful program and appreciate the leadership of Reps. Matsui, Calvert, Pingree and Langworthy. Continuing DERA will strengthen supply chains, support American manufacturing jobs and deliver further environmental benefits through a collaborative, market-based approach.”

DERA provides federal grants and rebates to help finance the voluntary replacement or retrofits of heavy-duty diesel vehicles and engines.  

By helping to upgrade tens of thousands of vehicles over nearly two decades, DERA is responsible for saving more than half a billion gallons of fuel.

Replacing older vehicles is critical to protecting the environment because advancements in clean diesel-engine technology have resulted in substantially lower emissions.  

In fact, it would take 60 of today’s trucks to emit the particulates just one truck did in 1988, and over 200 trucks to emit as much NOx.  

A newly manufactured truck produces half the CO2 emissions of one manufactured in 2010 and produces 99 percent fewer NOₓ and particulate-matter emissions than previous generations.

DERA is a technology-neutral program that allows for innovation and alternative fuel sources like renewable diesel, which generates a lower lifecycle-carbon footprint than battery-electric vehicles at a fraction of the cost.