Congresswoman raises concerns about VW settlement oversightSAN FRANCISCO/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A settlement with U.S. regulators gives Volkswagen AG (VOWG_p.DE) too much authority over how to spend $2 billion on electric vehicle technology, a U.S. congresswoman from California said this week in a letter, echoing concerns from states and others who fear the German automaker gains undue influence in the deal. Volkswagen agreed to spend $1.2 billion nationally and $800 million more in California on electric vehicle technology as penalties for equipping hundreds of thousands of diesel vehicles sold in the United States with software designed to cheat tailpipe emissions tests. The letter from Representative Anne Eshoo comes ahead of an Oct. 18 hearing at which a federal judge will consider whether to give final approval to $15.3 billion in settlements for owners, state and federal regulators or require changes and renegotiation. A provision “of particular concern” allows VW to make “possible investments in its own proprietary technology and subsidiaries,” Eshoo, a Democrat, said in the Oct. 4 letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa McCarthy. The EPA declined to comment. VW was not immediately available for comment. It has urged the court approve the deal. Eshoo’s fears mirror those raised by electric car-charging station companies in August. Four members of the California state legislature, in comments to the U.S. Department of Justice, also urged independent oversight and administration of the VW funds “to ensure that multiple vendors with cutting-edge technology are able to enter the market.”  The Justice Department said last month it received 1,195 comments period from private citizens, state and local government offices and agencies, businesses, and institutions and associations. The DOJ urged the agreements be approved with only minor changes.  Objectors face an uphill battle since U.S. courts generally give the government significant latitude to negotiate settlements.  The Justice Department said nearly half of the comments were submitted on behalf of a company that provides truck-stop electrification services to long-haul truck drivers, IdleAir, urging that the VW program be allowed to fund such projects. politicsNews
congressman raises concerns vw settlement oversightsan reuters a settlement regulators gives volkswagen ag much authority spend billion electric vehicle technology congressman california said week letter echoing concerns states others fear german automated gains undue influence deal volkswagen agreed spend billion nationally million california electric vehicle technology penalties equipping hundreds thousands diesel vehicles sold united states software designed cheat tailpipe emissions tests the letter representative anne show comes ahead hearing federal judge consider whether give final approval billion settlements owners state federal regulators require changes negotiation a provision particular concern allows vw make possible investments proprietary technology subsidiaries show democrat said letter environmental protection agency epa administrator lisa mccarthy the epa declined comment vw immediately available comment it urged court approve deal show fears mirror raised electric station companies august four members california state legislature comments department justice also urged independent oversight administration vw funds ensure multiple vendors technology able enter the justice department said last month received comments period private citizens state local government offices agencies businesses institutions associations the doj urged agreements approved minor changes objectors face uphill battle since courts generally give government significant latitude negotiate settlements the justice department said nearly half comments submitted behalf company provides electrification services truck drivers idleair urging vw program allowed fund projects politicsnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Congresswoman raises concerns about VW settlement oversightSAN FRANCISCO/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A settlement with U.S. regulators gives Volkswagen AG (VOWG_p.DE) too much authority over how to spend $2 billion on electric vehicle technology, a U.S. congresswoman from California said this week in a letter, echoing concerns from states and others who fear the German automaker gains undue influence in the deal. Volkswagen agreed to spend $1.2 billion nationally and $800 million more in California on electric vehicle technology as penalties for equipping hundreds of thousands of diesel vehicles sold in the United States with software designed to cheat tailpipe emissions tests. The letter from Representative Anne Eshoo comes ahead of an Oct. 18 hearing at which a federal judge will consider whether to give final approval to $15.3 billion in settlements for owners, state and federal regulators or require changes and renegotiation. A provision “of particular concern” allows VW to make “possible investments in its own proprietary technology and subsidiaries,” Eshoo, a Democrat, said in the Oct. 4 letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa McCarthy. The EPA declined to comment. VW was not immediately available for comment. It has urged the court approve the deal. Eshoo’s fears mirror those raised by electric car-charging station companies in August. Four members of the California state legislature, in comments to the U.S. Department of Justice, also urged independent oversight and administration of the VW funds “to ensure that multiple vendors with cutting-edge technology are able to enter the market.”  The Justice Department said last month it received 1,195 comments period from private citizens, state and local government offices and agencies, businesses, and institutions and associations. The DOJ urged the agreements be approved with only minor changes.  Objectors face an uphill battle since U.S. courts generally give the government significant latitude to negotiate settlements.  The Justice Department said nearly half of the comments were submitted on behalf of a company that provides truck-stop electrification services to long-haul truck drivers, IdleAir, urging that the VW program be allowed to fund such projects. politicsNews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: congressman raises concerns vw settlement oversightsan reuters a settlement regulators gives volkswagen ag much authority spend billion electric vehicle technology congressman california said week letter echoing concerns states others fear german automated gains undue influence deal volkswagen agreed spend billion nationally million california electric vehicle technology penalties equipping hundreds thousands diesel vehicles sold united states software designed cheat tailpipe emissions tests the letter representative anne show comes ahead hearing federal judge consider whether give final approval billion settlements owners state federal regulators require changes negotiation a provision particular concern allows vw make possible investments proprietary technology subsidiaries show democrat said letter environmental protection agency epa administrator lisa mccarthy the epa declined comment vw immediately available comment it urged court approve deal show fears mirror raised electric station companies august four members california state legislature comments department justice also urged independent oversight administration vw funds ensure multiple vendors technology able enter the justice department said last month received comments period private citizens state local government offices agencies businesses institutions associations the doj urged agreements approved minor changes objectors face uphill battle since courts generally give government significant latitude negotiate settlements the justice department said nearly half comments submitted behalf company provides electrification services truck drivers idleair urging vw program allowed fund projects politicsnews