(Washington, DC)—On the first full legislative day of the 110th Congress, Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO-05) introduced the “Congress Leads by Example through Alternative-Fuel Resources Act” or CLEAR Act. This legislation would prohibit the use of official funds from Members’ Representational Allowances, each Member’s annual budget, to provide for any passenger vehicle which does not use alternative fuels. The CLEAR Act has been designated H.R. 277 by the Clerk of the House.

“The public would much rather see a sermon than hear one.  Surely Congress cannot sell the American public on the need to abandon its gas guzzlers when they observe Members of Congress proudly driving them,” said Congressman Cleaver.

The Congressman’s office is taking the lead even before the legislation is passed. To bring constituent services to every corner of the district and to seniors and people with disability the Congressman leases a “Mobile Office” complete with wheelchair lift. The shuttle bus has all the services available at the Congressman’s office and has been retrofitted to meet the requirements of the CLEAR Act in a unique way. The Congressman’s Mobile Office runs on used cooking grease.

“I am proud to have the only Congressional vehicle I am aware of to run on used cooking grease. We are taking a normally discarded waste product and turning it into a replacement for foreign oil. It seems to me to be the ultimate example of intent of the CLEAR Act. Prior to looking into this subject, I honestly had no idea operating a vehicle on cooking grease was possible. Not only is it possible, the retrofit is relatively inexpensive and it only costs me 70 cents a gallon to fill up. It’s not a practical alternative for everyone at this time, but these are the sorts of innovative ideas that will break us of our foreign oil addiction,” said Cleaver. “And, honestly, the humor is not lost. In the town of ribs and fries could there be a more perfect way to travel?”

“I hope that the CLEAR Act encourages other Members of Congress to think of creative ways to reduce dependence on foreign oil. I guarantee you when Congress people start having to look for E-85 stations, there will be more of them built and when they experience driving a hybrid they will begin to think differently about alternative fuels,” said Cleaver.
 
The bill will now be assigned to the House Committee on Administration, where Cleaver looks forward to a hearing. 

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Belton, Raymore and Peculiar, Missouri. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee.