Washington, D.C. – Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet and 23 of his Senate colleagues today expressed their support for the 13 states and District of Columbia that have adopted the strongest fuel economy standards in the nation, pledging to oppose any efforts by the Trump administration to undermine those standards.
“The federal vehicle emissions standards—negotiated in an historic agreement between states, the federal government and the auto industry—provide a critical line of defense against climate change, drive American innovation and competitiveness, and save consumers money at the gas pump,” the senators wrote in a letter to the Governors. “We stand in solidarity with the states and D.C. that have adopted California’s standards, and will oppose any unprecedented attack on the California waiver or on its standards.”
Under the Clean Air Act, California was issued a waiver to enforce its own fuel economy emissions standards for new vehicles through 2025. As a result, twelve states—Massachusetts, Connecticut, Oregon, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maine, Rhode Island, Maryland, Vermont, New Jersey, Washington, New York—and the District of Columbia are similarly allowed to adopt the strong California standards. In their letter, the senators argued that higher fuel economy standards reduce our reliance on foreign oil, save consumers money at the pump, clean up the air, and protect our climate. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt has announced his intention to roll back the historic federal vehicle emissions standards for model years 2022-2025 and reexamine the California waiver.
A copy of the letter is available HERE.