If you’re tired of the United States being mired in Middle East messes, give Dingell a jingle. If you want your car to get better mileage, give Dingell a jingle. If you’re afraid of what tailpipe emissions will do to the planet, give Dingell a jingle.

Dingell is U.S. Rep. John Dingell, a Democrat who has represented automakers and auto unions from his Detroit-area district since 1955. But he definitely does not represent the interests of the nation when it comes to energy security and environmental health.

That’s significant, because as chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, he can rub out progressive legislation he deems harmful to powerful Michigan interests and, in turn, his career. It’s a formula he has parlayed into 26 re-elections – the second longest tenure ever for a House member.

Currently, Congress is debating a number of measures to increase fuel economy for cars, limit tailpipe pollution and make the nation less reliant on foreign oil. But if history is any guide, Dingell won’t allow a House vote on a bill the auto industry doesn’t like. Or, he’ll gum up the works in a House-Senate conference.

“We’ve had bills about CAFE standards (fuel mileage) before,” says Ann Korin, chairwoman of energy-independence group in Washington, D.C. “The question is: Has anyone changed Mr. Dingell’s mind? If not, it’s just talk.”

She’s right. It’s been 17 years since the last time the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standard has been raised.

With the help of U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and record high gas prices, the Senate’s energy committee approved a bipartisan bill on Tuesday that would increase the average fuel economy of cars from 25 miles per gallon in 2011 to 35 mpg in 2020.

“Light trucks” (SUVs and minivans) would be held to the same standard, thus ending the longstanding loophole that has harmed energy security.

Lawmakers are calling this plan “10 in 10,” because it would raise the standard by 10 mpg over 10 years. But in reality, it’s “10 in 30,” with 20 years being wasted as auto interests successfully stifled progress.

And, guess what? Automakers say the current Senate plan is too ambitious.

Actually, it’s timid, because it contains an escape hatch for future administrations should automakers regain their political grip. If that exit were sealed shut, a 10 mpg gain would save nearly as much fuel as we currently import from the Middle East.

And yet, that alone won’t be enough as the population grows, the planet warms and finite sources of crude are sucked dry. The nation needs a comprehensive strategy that includes incentives for alternative fuels, support for plug-in hybrid technology and cleaner-operating power plants and an overhaul of the electrical transmission grid.

But it would still help if you gave Dingell a jingle.

“Contact information for U.S. Rep. John Dingell: Phone number, (202) 225-4071; Fax, (202) 226-0371; e-mail for the House Energy and Commerce Committee, http://energycommerce.house.gov/ membios/contact_form.shtml.