WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill, H.R. 6324, that would reduce the amount the federal government can spend on purchasing and leasing vehicles over the next five years. Called the Cutting Federal Unnecessary and Expensive Leasing (Cutting FUEL) Act, this bill is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Richard Hanna (R-New York) and would save $800 million per year, according to Rep. Hanna’s office. This bill was co-sponsored by Rep. John Barrow (D-Georgia).

The bill requires civilian federal agencies to spend 20% less than they spent in FY- 2010 on vehicle purchases and leases for the next five years. Certain federal entities are exempt from the bill, including the Department of Defense, the Postal Service, and other vehicles needed for national security.

Hanna’s office stated that this bill owes its origins to a recommendation from the Simpson-Bowles commission. That commission found that the U.S. federal fleet has grown by nearly 30,000 vehicles in recent years.

This is not Hanna’s first effort to reduce federal fleet costs. He also authored a law to cap congressional spending on vehicle leases at $1,000 a month. This law has been in effect for two years.

Another recent bill proposed to limit spending on federal fleet vehicles funds is H.R. 6144.