For Congress and public officials, Public Policy Auto Show is a weeklong attraction

For Congress and public officials, Public Policy Auto Show is a weeklong attraction

The Washington Auto Shows Public Policy Days may have come and gone, but there was no letup in the draw the show had for Congress and other public officials from around the area.

Last Friday, in particular, was a remarkable day, as the head of the Congressional Automotive Caucus and chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Fred Upton (RMI), and his senior staff toured the WAS exhibit hall for an extended period of time. Rep. Upton paid special attention to the vehicles and future power technologies exhibited in the Advanced Technology SuperHighway, a unique WAS pavilion showcasing a complete array of green vehicles and auto safety innovations. His committee in the House oversees the agencies that regulate the auto industry on matters of safety, fuel economy and tailpipe emissions, and he has stated that he will be reviewing all these regulations, but especially those affecting pending fuel economy, over the next months.

Rep. Upton was preceded on the second Friday by Sen. Sherrod Brown (R-OH), a champion of the auto industry in the Senate chamber, and Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), who toured the show with his wife, Marcelle, in search of a new family vehicle.

Earlier in the week, Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) spent several hours at the WAS getting fully briefed by OEM representatives on the new vehicle technology displayed. He was joined on his tour by assistant secretary of energy David Sandalow, who, among other things, oversees research monies the Department of Energy is providing to manufacturers to develop higher mileage cars and trucks.

Also taking a tour of the show was Florida governor Rick Scott (R), who was in town for other matters, but who dropped by the WAS, he said, to see what was new in the way of clean cars and energy efficient technology.