TULSA, Okla. (AP) - U.S. Rep. John Sullivan must give up a leased Chevrolet Suburban, thanks to a new program to get officials to use more energy-efficient vehicles.
If the Oklahoma Republican wants to continue using a leased vehicle, he will have to pick among those approved by the Environmental Protection Agency, the Tulsa World's Washington bureau reported.
"I was recently made aware of the updated list issued by the Office of Administrative Council, which restricts what vehicles can be leased for official congressional business to a list of EPA-approved vehicles," the congressman said in a statement. "I currently drive a 2007 Flex Fuel Chevrolet Suburban, which is not included on this updated list. At the end of my current lease in January 2009, I will switch to an EPA-approved vehicle."
Sullivan may be the only member of the state's congressional delegation to take advantage of the lease program.
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Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Okla., at times uses a rental car. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., declined to respond when his office was asked about leased vehicles.
According to figures provided by Sullivan's office, the Suburban costs $673 per month.
Although the program is timely, given the skyrocketing fuel prices Americans are paying, it has been pushed for years by Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, D-Mo.
Cleaver, who believes members of Congress should lead by example, inserted provisions that led to the EPA list of cars in a 2007 energy law.
