SAFE Applauds Electric Vehicle and Active Transportation Provisions In INVEST In America Act


Washington, D.C.—Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE) commends provisions in the newly-released Investing In A New Vision For The Environment And Surface Transportation In America Act (INVEST In America) by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, which will strengthen our economy through increased investments in next-generation transportation technologies.

“Investing in the future of transportation now will support the American economy in the short-term and boost our nation’s long-term economic resilience. The pandemic has exposed vulnerabilities in our economy, from an outsized reliance on China for our future transportation technology to a lack of diversity in our transportation fuels. It is vital for our economic and national security that we scale up our investments in these technologies as soon as possible,” said Robbie Diamond, President and CEO of SAFE.

Important provisions in the INVEST In America Act mirror recommendations SAFE outlined in its recent Get America Moving Again (GAMA) report. One is a five-fold expansion of funding for the electrification of America’s transit bus fleet. In GAMA, SAFE called for an expansion of the oversubscribed Low-No Emissions Bus Program to expedite the conversion of the nation’s 49,000 transit buses to electric versions or alternative fuels, while contributing to the growth of a domestic electric bus manufacturing sector and the associated components.

INVEST In America also boosts funding for active transportation infrastructure that will increase safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and micromobility users—recommendations made in GAMA, in addition to provisions that support the buildout of electric vehicle (EV) charging and hydrogen refueling infrastructure by funding the Alternative Fuel Corridors program.

“Automakers and governments worldwide have spent hundreds of billions of dollars on preparing for the shift away from gasoline to an electrified, digitized future. The country that reaches this goal first stands to reap tremendous economic and strategic benefits for years to come. If we want a future that relies neither on an unstable oil market nor China for our transportation future, it is vital that we win this race,” Diamond added.

About Securing America’s Future Energy

Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE) is an action-oriented, nonpartisan organization that aims to reduce America’s dependence on oil. Near-total dependence on petroleum in the transportation sector undermines the nation’s economic and national security, and constrains U.S. foreign policy. To combat these threats, SAFE advocates for expanded domestic production of U.S. oil and gas resources, continued improvements in vehicle fuel efficiency, and transportation sector innovations including electric vehicles, natural gas trucks, and autonomous vehicles. In 2006, SAFE joined with General P.X. Kelley (Ret.), 28th Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, and Frederick W. Smith, Chairman, President, and CEO of FedEx Corporation, to form the Energy Security Leadership Council (ESLC), a group of business and former military leaders committed to reducing the United States’ dependence on oil. Today, the ESLC is co-chaired by Frederick W. Smith and General James T. Conway (Ret), 34th Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps.

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Contact: Alex Adams | 202.461.2374 | aadams@secureenergy.org