I have made my personal effort for U.S. oil and environmental security by purchasing a Prius, and it is time for Colorado’s representatives to do the same.

The U.S. House is about to vote on an energy bill that could lock-in the Senate’s strong but sensible 35 miles-per-gallon target. The National Academy of Sciences has concluded that automakers already have the technology to make all their vehicles more fuel-efficient without sacrificing safety or size, and the House bill would gived more than a decade to reach the 35 mpg target (remember that a decade ago, no one in America even heard of a hybrid).

Once these cleaner cars hit the road, it would result in more than $500 million in savings at the gas pump each year and more than 3,000 jobs created in Colorado. It would save more oil than we currently import from Saudi Arabia nationwide.

Congressman John Salazar and every representative in our state must take the responsibility to help bring these vehicles to market, just as Congress overrode automaker complaints about mandatory air bags, seat belts and catalytic converters.



Wayne Flick

Grand Junction