Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/senate-passes-fuel-standards-increase-ethanol-plan Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Transcript The Senate passed an energy bill Thursday night that would require automobile makers to increase fuel economy standards to 35 miles per gallon by the year 2020. The NewsHour's Kwame Holman reports on the action on Capitol Hill. Read the Full Transcript Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors. KWAME HOLMAN: It's been more than 20 years since the federal government raised gasoline mileage standards for cars. Intense opposition from automakers squelched past legislative attempts, but that changed last evening on the floor of the Senate.North Dakota Democrat Byron Dorgan.SEN. BYRON DORGAN (D), North Dakota: This industry will succeed, in my judgment, if they are under the gun and under some pressure to produce more efficient vehicles. Other companies in other countries are doing it and so, too, should ours. KWAME HOLMAN: As part of the energy bill passed yesterday, Senate Democrats and Republicans together approved increasing the combined average fuel efficiency for new cars and light trucks — CAFE standards, as they're called — to 35 miles per gallon by 2020.Idaho Republican Larry Craig said the nation's dependence on foreign oil and growing concerns about global warming caused him to rethink his previous opposition. He referenced a recent conversation with auto industry representatives.SEN. LARRY CRAIG (R), Idaho: I said, "You haven't changed in 27 years, and I haven't changed in the 27 years I've been in Congress. I'm changing, and it's time for you to change."