The federal budget package approved by the U.S. House and U.S. Senate includes a 50 percent increase in funding for a clean air program that reduces emissions from older diesel powered engines, vehicles, and equipment, according to the Diesel Technology Forum.

Funding for the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) under the current funding package will increase from $20 million to $30 million if signed into law by President Obama.

The DERA program helps the owners of older diesel powered vehicles and equipment with the purchase of new technology engines, approved emission controls or retrofit devices to reduce emissions, and total engine replacements, according to the forum.

DERA funding made available since 2008 has reduced emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx), a smog forming compound, by 203,000 tons, emissions of particulate matter (PM) by 12,500 tons, and carbon emissions by 2.3 million tons, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.