Dec. 15 (Bloomberg) -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Democrat of California, urged President George W. Bush to sign into law an energy bill increasing auto fuel efficiency standards to 35 miles per gallon by 2020.

``Increased fuel efficiency will mean savings for your family and greater security for our country,'' Pelosi said in the Democratic Party's weekly radio address. ``Energy independence is essential to our national security.''

In an 86-8 vote on Dec. 13, the Senate approved the energy legislation, the first in three decades to increase fuel efficiency standards. The bill also increases the use of biofuels to reduce gasoline consumption.

``The crops America's farmers grow are becoming the fuel that powers our cars,'' Pelosi said. ``We will send our energy dollars to the Midwest, not the Middle East, to farmers nationwide. America's farmers will fuel America's energy independence, promoting small businesses and creating millions of new jobs.''

Republican Bush will sign the legislation if the Congress, controlled by the Democrats, approves it, press secretary Dana Perino said. Provisions increasing taxes on oil and natural gas companies and requiring investor-owned utilities to buy a portion of their power from renewable sources were stripped from bill because of Republican opposition.

The House will take up the legislation on Dec. 18, according to House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland, and Pelosi earlier said she would back the legislation, calling it ``a substantial policy advance.''

To contact the reporter on this story: Vincent Del Giudice in Washington at vdelgiudice@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: December 15, 2007 11:08 EST