McCain Fuel Effiency Bill Good Starting Point, Needs Strengthening

Contact: Fred Krupp 212 505-2100

Steve Cochran 202 387-3500

Environmental Defense today praised Senator John McCain (R-AZ) for introducing legislation late yesterday to improve fuel efficiency in vehicles.

“Senator McCain’s proposal is an important step toward strengthening vehicle mileage standards,” said Environmental Defense executive director Fred Krupp. “We will work to increase the miles per gallon goal and put it into effect more quickly, but this bill is a substantial step toward the first improvement in mileage in over two decades.”

“The proposal breaks new ground by putting automotive emissions of carbon dioxide, the chief global warming pollutant, at the forefront of the policy debate, and using the powerful tool of market mechanisms to reduce them,” said Joseph Goffman, senior attorney. “Unfortunately, we have significant concerns about how the emissions trading provisions of the bill are now written,” said Goffman. “Flexibility requires responsibility. We will work to improve these and other provisions as the debate goes forward.”

“Senator McCain’s involvement could provide a real breakthrough in the debate on legislation to improve fuel efficiency in vehicles. Now is the time for both political parties to come together on legislation that will help protect America’s health by cleaning the air, and America’s economy by lessening our nation’s dependence on oil,” added Environmental Defense’s director of strategic communications Steve Cochran.”