WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)--Top House and Senate lawmakers said Tuesday that Congress would look for an additional $25 billion for a government-loan package for U.S. auto companies over the next three years.

The money would be added to $25 billion in loans that is included in a must-pass government-spending bill that lawmakers are expected to approve this week.

"We just wanted you to know there's more that needs to be done," said House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell, D-Mich., adding that lawmakers would begin working on the second $25 billion "at the earliest possible moment."

Congress is expected to adjourn this week, likely for the year, meaning that the next allotment for the auto industry will wait until a new Congress and president is installed.

Dingell appeared Tuesday with a handful of Michigan lawmakers who applauded the auto loan program, saying the money is critical to stem job loss for auto companies. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., said the program will help keep "good paying middle class jobs here" in the country.

Republicans and Democrats from Michigan have been working for months with the administration to hammer out the details of the program.

The loan program was authorized as part of last year's energy bill, which requires auto makers to meet a 35 mile-per-gallon standard for fuel efficiency by 2020. The loans would go to auto makers to retool older plants to make fuel-efficient vehicles. Plants older than 20 years would receive preference.

Lawmakers who pushed for the money said auto makers are in trouble because they have been required to take out high-cost loans they can't afford to retool their plants.

The Detroit Big Three auto makers - General Motors Corp. GM, -2.37% , Ford Motor Co. F, -1.34% and Chrysler LLC - would be the most likely of auto companies in the U.S. to benefit from the program.

-By Fawn Johnson, Dow Jones Newswires; 202-862-9263; fawn.johnson@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 24, 2008 11:18 ET (15:18 GMT)

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