Rush Chastises Fiat for Violating Clean Air Act, Vows to Reintroduce the CLEANUP Act

Statement

Energy Subcommittee Ranking Member Bobby L. Rush (D-Ill.) released the following statement today in response to the Environmental Protection Agency's announcement that it has issued a notice of violation to Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. and FCA U.S. for failing to disclose engine management software in approximately 104,000 light-duty diesel vehicles:

"It is very disheartening to learn that yet another automaker has been caught trying to cheat the system and violate the Clean Air Act by installing and failing to disclose engine management software in light-duty model year 2014, 2015 and 2016 trucks sold in the United States," said Rush. "Following on the heels of the recent Volkswagen scandal, this new development demonstrates the need for additional federal oversight to hold automakers accountable for their deceitful practices.

"It is for this very reason that I will soon be reintroducing the Compensating Losses to the Environment from Automobiles with Noxious Undisclosed Pollution, or CLEANUP Act. This bill would give federal agencies the authority to penalize perpetrators who violate the Clean Air Act by cheating emissions tests and use that money to invest in initiatives that help improve air quality for all Americans."

The CLEANUP Act would deny automakers the benefit of fraudulently obtained CAFE credits while also authorizing the Department of Transportation (DOT) to collect additional penalties from automakers that violate the law. Additionally, the bill would authorize DOT to use these collected funds to make investments in other forms of clean transportation such as retrofitting school buses, funding electric vehicle fueling stations and providing grants for projects to improve air quality in low-income communities.

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