Support for the Administration’s Joint Proposal to Set New, More Appropriate Vehicle Fuel Economy and CO2 Standards to Save Lives, Restore Consumer Choice and Improve the Economy
Detroit Free Press:
“Saying those existing standards have helped push the cost of new vehicle to an average of $35,000 or more — and that they could add as much as $2,340 to the cost of a new car — the Trump administration has argued that those standards are no longer feasible or appropriate and that protecting the environment and health from emissions is better achieved by freezing standards.”
South Dakota Senator John Thune, Chairman, Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation:
“Federal regulations shouldn’t compromise safety or force consumers to drive vehicles they don’t want to or can’t afford to buy. The SAFE Vehicles proposal offers the public an important opportunity to consider new information about the safety realities of smaller and lighter vehicles in collisions as part of a more informed conversation about achievable fuel economy standards.”
Wyoming Senator John Barrasso, Chairman, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee:
“I applaud the Trump administration for proposing new standards for cars and trucks. Unless the Obama administration’s punishing standards are changed, consumer choice will be limited and the cost of vehicles will skyrocket. When setting standards, Washington must consider what is best for the whole country. The previous administration ignored that concern. Americans shouldn’t be denied the ability to purchase a car or truck that meets their needs. The standards must allow people to buy the vehicles they require, at a price they can afford.”
Ohio Congressmen Jim Renacci, Robert Latta, Steve Stivers, Steve Chabot, Bob Gibbs, Jim Jordan, Brad Wenstrup, Bill Johnson, Warren Davison, David Joyce, and Michael Turner:
“Laudably, NHTSA and EPA announced in 2017 they would reopen the MTE and work together in a transparent manner informed by available scientific data. It is important the agencies jointly review the standards to ensure they are not detrimental to the automobile industry and our nation’s economy, as is required by regulation. Of equal importance is the need to provide vehicle manufacturers with regulatory certainty, including the automotive industry that employs nearly 630,000 Buckeyes.”
Pennsylvania Congressmen Bill Shuster, Lloyd Smucker, Lou Barletta, Mike Kelly, Tom Marino, Scott Perry, Keith Rothfus and Glenn Thompson:
“We applaud this productive step forward to establish a transparent and inclusive process.
“The current iteration of the CAFE program, as constructed by the Obama Administration, appears outdated and overly complicated. It is unable to keep up with the rapid changes in the marketplace.
“It is important that NHTSA and EPA review the mandate to ensure that the U.S. is protecting consumers from higher costs and still allowing for choice in vehicles that best fit their needs.”
Fiat Chrysler of America:
“At its core, the proposed rule recognizes that assumptions made in 2012 about consumer preferences have fundamentally shifted in 2018. The proposal includes a range of options, and we will carefully evaluate how each aligns with FCA’s goals of continuous improvement in vehicle efficiency and, at the same time, building vehicles customers want, at prices they can afford.”
General Motors:
“We are encouraged the proposal includes provisions that would recognize the environmental benefits of new technology developments such as the increased use of electric vehicles, autonomous and related technologies. We look forward to working with all parties to achieve one national 50-state program.”
Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI):
“The administration’s announcement that it will relax future fuel economy (CAFE) standards is good news for consumers. It means that the federal government will have slightly less control over the kinds of cars and trucks people can buy. It might even cause car prices to stop increasing so rapidly. Even better news is the decision to take California out of the driver’s seat for setting CAFE standards for the entire country. Letting one state make decisions for people in other states makes a bad program even worse, especially since the state is California, which has been pursuing an anti-car agenda for decades.”
Project 21, Black Leadership Network Co-Chairs Horace Cooper, Stacy Washington, Council Nedd II:
“Because these price increases hit all Americans equally irrespective of their ability to pay, CAFE regulations have a disparate negative impact on the poor, a significant portion of whom are black. We also recognize that higher CAFE standards have a significant negative impact on vehicle safety… thank you for taking this bold action on CAFE standards that will provide much-needed relief for black families while also saving lives.”
National Automobile Dealers Association:
“NADA has long supported a data-driven and informed process for determining future greenhouse gas and fuel economy standards, and is supportive of the extensive work NHTSA and EPA undertook to craft their proposal. We look forward to carefully reviewing the proposal and the regulatory options set out in it. Our collective focus should be on identifying smart standards that maintain vehicle affordability and encourage fleet turnover, as that is the best way to maximize the number of cleaner, safer and more fuel-efficient vehicles we get on the road every year.”
Former Congressman Nick Rahall (D-WV):
“The unintended consequences for American consumers — especially those in rural and suburban areas — include a lack of consumer choice and more dangerous conditions on our roads. Democrats should support the administration’s move to undo these sharp increases in CAFE standards.”
Joint Auto Alliance and Global Automakers Statement:
“We applaud the President and the Administration for releasing this much anticipated proposal that includes a variety of standards for public consideration. Automakers support continued improvements in fuel economy and flexibilities that incentivize advanced technologies while balancing priorities like affordability, safety, jobs, and the environment.
House Committee on Energy & Commerce Chairmen Walden and Members Latta, Shimkus, and Upton:
“This rushed determination by [the previous] EPA represented a lack of commitment to the process set forth in 2012. Thankfully, this Administration resumed a transparent and open process and in March 2017, NHTSA and EPA announced they would reopen the Midterm Evaluation and work together as originally intended. This joint Notice of Proposed Rulemaking represents a commitment to a process that enables full consideration of up-to-date scientific data, market trends, technological advancements, and stakeholder input. We applaud NHSTA and EPA for this productive step and thank you for your leadership on this very important issue.”
Oklahoma Senator James Inhofe:
“The current CAFE standards are forcing the auto industry to produce cars that consumers don’t want, increasing the price of vehicles that they do want. The Obama administration drove up the prices of trucks and SUVs by allowing California to set the auto standards for the whole country—ignoring the needs and interests of people in other states like Oklahoma who don’t want electric vehicles. By revising the standard to consider what is best for all Americans and what is technologically feasible, we can truly advance the production of safe, reliable vehicles that are also affordable.”
Texas Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, and Members of Congress Pete Olson, Roger Williams, Pete Sessions, Brian Babin, Lamar Smith, Randy Weber, John Culberson, Kenny Marchant, Bill Flores, Ted Poe, Michael McCaul, Will Hurd, Joe Barton, Jeb Hensarling, John Carter, Kevin Brady, Louie Gohmert, John Ratcliffe, Michael Burgess, Jodey Arrington, Mike Conaway, Sam Johnson, Mac Thornberry, Kay Granger, and Michael Cloud:
“We support NHTSA’s commitment to an open and transparent process for the current review of the CAFE standards…furthermore, we hope you will take time to examine ways in which the latest technological innovations can be leveraged to help American consumers, as well as take into account ways in which the current program can be made less complex.”
North Dakota Senator John Hoeven and Rep. Kevin Cramer:
“A proper examination of technological feasibility and the realities facing consumers from cost, choice and safety are required…we believe you are on the right track to reexamining these issues in the 2022-2025 standards.”
West Virginia House delegation - Congressmen David McKinley, Alex Mooney, and Evan Jenkins:
“This action is a meaningful step towards reducing the complexity of the CAFE program while permitting all stakeholders to have a voice in the program.”
Indiana Members of Congress Sen. Todd Young, Rep. Jackie Walorski, Rep. Jim Banks, Rep. Todd Rokita, Rep. Susan Brooks, Rep. Luke Messer, Rep. Larry Bucshon, Rep. Trey Hollingsworth:
“It is vital that NHTSA and EPA promptly review the mandate to ensure that the U.S. is not imposing prohibitively high costs on consumers and continues to provide marketplace for meaningful consumer choice for American families.”
Coalition comprising American Energy Alliance (AEA): Heritage Action for America, American Commitment, Americans for Prosperity, Competitive Enterprise Institute, Rhode Island Center for Freedom and Prosperity, James Madison Institute, Rio Grande Foundation, FreedomWorks, Caesar Rodney Institute, Americans for Tax Reform:
“We are pleased that DOT and EPA are taking meaningful steps to reduce the burden and irrationality of this outdated and unnecessarily complicated mandate.”
National Council on Disability President Neil Romano:
“I urge the Department to examine whether the implementation of the CAFE standards will impact the affordability of vehicles. In particular…the impact on the price of vehicles manufactured with accessibility features, and vehicles that are manufactured for later adaptation for heavy wheelchair access.”
National Black Chamber of Commerce President Harry Alford and Chair Courtney Reynolds:
“We write you today to express our strong support for your reconsideration of the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) … standards for Model Years 2022-2025. American families and small business owners… deserve automobile regulations that promote – not impede – consumer choice and economic growth.”
Natural Gas Vehicles for America President Daniel Gage:
“By reopening a comprehensive, data-driven review of light-duty fuel-efficiency standards… parity, consistency, and clarity…can result. It is important that the resulting rule honors consumer choice, ensures flexibility for automakers in meeting aggressive environmental targets, and preserves the “One National Program” regulatory structure.”
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