05 janeiro, 2008 - Published 04:59 GMT

EUA aprovam lei sobre uso de combustíveis

The new legislation requires American auto-manufacturers to make more fuel-efficient vehicles. In fact it calls for a new average of thirty-five miles per gallon, and it's an increase of some forty per cent. Car makers will have thirteen years to reach the targets.

Congress also ordered a massive increase in the production of ethanol, an alternative fuel for cars: up sevenfold over fifteen years.

The Bill had bipartisan support. The most senior Democrat in the Senate, Harry Reid, said America must begin to break its addiction to oil and reverse global warming, and that this Bill would make strides towards that.

Senate Democrats didn't have it all their own way though. In order to win enough votes they had to drop parts of the Bill that called for billions of dollars in taxes on oil companies. This may yet prove to be a sticking point. The lower House of Representatives has approved the bill with the tax package and will now have to vote again on the reduced measure.

Rajesh Mirchandani, BBC, Washington

more fuel-efficient
que usem menos combustível para percorrer a mesma distância

calls for
prevê, determina

to reach the targets
para atingir os objetivos, para se adequar à lei

a massive increase
um enorme aumento

up sevenfold
sete vezes mais (do que é produzido atualmente)

had bipartisan support
teve apoio dos dois principais partidos (Democrata e Republicano)

to break its addiction to oil
acabar com a sua dependência de petróleo

make strides
dar um passo (em direção a esse objetivo)

Democrats didn't have it all their own way
nem tudo aconteceu como os Democratas queriam e planejavam

a sticking point
ponto de discórdia