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 WASHINGTON (AP) - Senators reached agreement Thursday on a proposal to increase automobile fuel economy standards to 35 miles per gallon, the first significant boost demanded of automakers in nearly 20 years.
The agreement, expected to be announced at a news conference, would scale back a proposal already in the Senate's energy bill but it still was considered strong enough to have wide support from environmentalists.
The compromise aimed to head off attempts by senators sympathetic to the auto industry from pressing a less stringent proposal. Supporters said they had the 60 votes needed to prevent opponents from blocking it.
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