Rep. Doris Matsui Statement on Raising Fuel Economy Standards

Press Release

Rep. Doris Matsui Statement on Raising Fuel Economy Standards

New Auto Standards Signal Major Milestone on Path to Energy Independence

Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-05) today hailed President Barack Obama's announcement that he will raise fuel economy standards to 35.5 miles per gallon (mpg) by 2016 with the support of automakers as a major milestone on the path to energy independence. For the first time in history, we have set in motion a national policy aimed at both increasing gas mileage and decreasing greenhouse gas pollution for all new cars and trucks sold in the United States.

Rep. Matsui has been an outspoken advocate of increasing fuel economy standards, and has long believed that the use of realistic future gas prices and technology cost assumptions would support a cost-effective standard of more than 35 miles per gallon by 2016, an increase of more than 8 miles per gallon per vehicle. As a result, America will save 1.8 billion barrels of oil over the lifetime of the vehicles sold in the next five years - more oil than the U.S. imported last year from Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Libya, and Nigeria combined. This is the equivalent of taking 58 million cars off the road for an entire year.

"With this historic announcement, President Obama has made huge strides by securing the commitment of automakers to simultaneously agree to higher fuel economy standards," said Rep. Matsui. "As someone who has pushed for stronger fuel economy standards for years, I am encouraged by the Administration's dedication to reducing our carbon emissions and to working with Congress to make a real difference on climate change."

The House Energy and Commerce Committee, on which Congresswoman Matsui serves, is currently working on the comprehensive energy bill that will not only help end our dependence on foreign oil and build a clean energy economy, but will provide more than $15 billion to help build the cars and trucks of the future right here in America.

"There's an enormous amount of lost ground to reclaim from many years of inaction, delay and denial about the reality of climate change and the harmful effects that carbon emissions are having on our planet," stated Rep. Matsui. "The science on global warming shows that if left ignored, the impacts could become increasingly detrimental. This is why it is so important that we work to recognize global warming's effects and reduce our carbon emissions immediately and I applaud President Obama for moving so quickly to do so."

President Obama's plan, as outlined today, is designed to achieve the following goals:

• Consumers will pay less for fuel, with savings more than making up for any increase in the prices of new cars;
• Automakers, at a time of historic crisis, will face one clear, consistent standard instead of a confusing and costly patchwork of regulations;
• The economy as a whole will run on less oil, which means less money going overseas and more money for consumers to spend or save at home; and
• We will enhance our national security by loosening the dangerous grip of foreign oil while making a down payment on combating global warming.

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