Congressman DeSaulnier Introduces Bill to Reduce Federal Government's Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Statement

Today, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11) introduced legislation that would require vehicles purchased by the federal government to meet low greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) standards. Specifically, the Clean Federal Fleet Act (H.R. 5554) would ensure the federal government's compliance with the Obama-era One National Program that, before gutted by the Trump Administration, was estimated to reduce global warming pollution by as much as 570 million metric tons (MMT) in 2030.

"The federal government should be leading the effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase fuel economy," said Congressman DeSaulnier. "With the Trump Administration's destructive climate actions, including withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement, we must make it clear to the rest of the world that the American people and our government take the threat of climate change seriously and are willing to do our part."

With more than 644,545 vehicles in the federal fleet and more than $1.6 billion being spent between 2011 and 2015 to purchase federal vehicles, the fiscal, public health, and environmental impacts of this legislation would be significant.

The Clean Federal Fleet Act is the latest in a series of actions Congressman DeSaulnier has taken to protect California's Clean Air Act Waiver and emissions standards. In August of 2018 and again in September of 2019, he led a coalition of over 80 other Democratic members in introducing a resolution to condemn the Trump Administration's rollback of the One National Program and the cancelation of California's Clean Air Act waiver. Congressman DeSaulnier has also introduced the Clean Corridors Act (H.R. 2616), legislation that would direct $3 billion in federal dollars over the coming decade to construct and install infrastructure to support technologies like hydrogen fuel cell and electric battery-powered vehicles.

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