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The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R..4475) making appropriations for the Department of Transportation and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2001, and for other purposes.

• Mr. VENTO. Mr. Chairman, I rise to express my concerns regarding the FY 2001 Transportation Appropriation rider, which would continue to freeze the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFÉ) standards at current levels.

• The CAFÉ standards passed by Congress in 1975 comprise one of the most successful environmental policies enacted in the past thirty years. Fuel efficiency standards save consumers millions of dollars at the gas pump while decreasing pollution and U.S. dependence on fossil fuels and foreign oil. Current CAFÉ standards save more than 3 million barrels of oil per day, and more than $40 billion at the gas pump each year.

• While the current provisions have been effective, the increase in the number of light trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) on the road warrants a revision of CAFÉ emission standards. Light trucks and SUVs now account for 47.5% of vehicles sold in the United States. Yet, they are held to a lower fuel efficiency standard than passenger automobiles. The result is that the fuel efficiency of vehicles sold in the United States has hit its lowest point since 1980. This is in itself circumvention of the policy path, as these vehicles are certainly a substitute for the family automobile. When you add the freeze of CAFÉ standards, it compounds the energy inefficiency of our present policy and law.

• The environmental benefits of reducing emissions cannot be underestimated. Holding SUVs to the same standards as passenger cars would reduce emission of carbon dioxide by 30 tons over the life of the automobile. Increasing CAFÉ standards for light trucks would reduce urban smog and the buildup of greenhouse gases, an important step in the battle against global warming. Furthermore, increasing CAFÉ standards would bring the United States closer to a 7% reduction from 1990 carbon dioxide levels, as required by the Kyoto Agreement.

• The recent spike in oil prices highlights anew the need to reduce U.S. dependence on fossil fuels and foreign oil supplies. The United States has the technological capability to produce clean and efficient energy. It is essential that Congress support these goals, and stop prohibiting revision of CAFÉ standards. I urge my colleagues to work today to preserve the environment for tomorrow. Oppose the CAFÉ-freeze rider attached to the FY 2001 Transportation Appropriation bill.

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