The US House of Representatives agreed on Friday to add US$2 billion to the "cash for clunkers" car purchase program after the first US$10 billion budget have been exhausted in just a week.

The bill was passed on a vote of 316-109 in the House. US President Barack Obama said he was encouraged by the emergency action to keep alive a program that had "succeeded well beyond our expectations."

The Senate "will try to go to the bill next week," said Jim Manley, a spokesman for Majority Leader Harry Reid.

The "cash for clunkers" program, which offers rebates of up to US$4,500 to consumers who trade in old vehicles and buy new, more fuel-efficient models, began July 24 and sparked a surge in car sales.

(Xinhua News Agency August 1, 2009)