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BRIEF: The state Senate Monday passed a bill that raises funding for the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan or TERP. Clean air advocates say Senate bill 1365 is stronger than its House companion, but the bill faces serious Republican-led opposition. The House environmental regulations committee chair Dennis Bonnen of Angleton vowed to sideline the bill, unless Senators agreed to water it down to more closely resemble the House version. Bonnen wants the bill to specifically ban the decrease of speed limits for environmental purposes. "If in conference the Senate does not agree to adopt that language, I will not let that bill out of the conference committee," Bonnen said. Executive director of Public Citizen, Tom Smith called the senate bill a good first step toward reducing toxic emissions. "It has in it provisions that retain Texas' low-sulfur diesel emission fuels and allows TCEQ, if needed, to reduce the speed limit-both of which are essential to Texas meeting our clean air goals," Smith said. Senate bill 1365 raises $160 million to fund state emission reductions, primarily through higher title fees on Texas car owners. The TERP is expected to reduce ozone-causing emissions of nitrogen oxides by 19 tons per day in the eight-county Houston-Galveston Area. While raising more money that its House companion, the bill still falls tens of millions short of what the Environmental Protection Agency estimates will be need to fund the crucial clean air plan. If the TERP is not funded by Sep. 1, the EPA will not approve clean air plans for Houston and Dallas. Without EPA's approval, the cities will lose millions in highway funds and face federal sanctions. Erika McDonald, KPFT News, Houston. E-mail Erika McDonald at erika@cechouston.org . This story was broadcast on May 7, 2003.