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May 27, 1999 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: 31 SENATORS CALL ON CLINTON TO SUPPORT CLEANER SUVs, NEARING LEVEL TO SUSTAIN PRESIDENTIAL ACTION WASHINGTON -- The Sierra Club and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (U.S. PIRG) today hailed 31 U.S. Senators who signed a letter calling on President Clinton to improve pollution-cutting mile-per-gallon standards for automobiles. The letter indicates Senate support for CAFE has approached the level needed to support presidential action to implement the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) law. "I believe strongly that global warming is not a problem we can afford to ignore or dismiss. Strengthening the CAFE standards is one of the easiest, most important steps we can take to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and fight global warming," said Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), who authored the letter and, along with Senators Bryan (D-NV) and Gorton (R-WA), led the effort in the Senate. If the President heeds the Senators' call by implementing the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) law, it will save consumers money at the gas pump and cut global warming pollution by 240 million tons per year when fully phased in. "Americans want cleaner SUVs and other light trucks, as they proved when thousands of citizens called, wrote and e-mailed their Senators asking them to cut auto pollution," said Ann Mesnikoff of Sierra Club's Global Warming Program. "These Senators listened to their constituents and joined the fight for cleaner vehicles. Raising CAFE standards is the biggest single step we can take to curb global warming." "Families that drive SUVs should not be denied the benefits of fuel saving technology," said U.S. PIRG Staff Attorney Katherine Silverthorne. "The auto industry and their friends in Congress should stop holding fuel efficiency hostage. It's time to fix our gas guzzlers and put the brakes on global warming pollution." "These Senators are turning the tables on automakers, refusing to be cowed by industry pressure -- it's a `Senator bites SUV' story," said Daniel Becker, Director of Sierra Club's Global Warming and Energy Program. "The level of support nears the level we need to sustain presidential action to raise the standards." In addition to the 31 Senators who signed the letter, 12 more voted in the past to increase CAFE standards. "The technology to improve gas mileage exists right now, but automakers have decided to leave it sitting on the shelf and their friends in Congress are working hard to help them keep it there," Mesnikoff added. CAFE standards have been stagnant for nearly a decade, with cars at 27.5 miles per gallon, and SUVs and other light trucks lagging behind at 20.7 miles per gallon. The numbers of SUVs and other light trucks on the road has increased dramatically in the last 10 years, helping to drive up levels of carbon dioxide pollution. While a Ford Taurus emits about 120 tons of global warming pollution over its lifetime, a gas guzzling Ford Expedition will spew out more than 200 tons. Closing the fuel-economy law loophole that allows SUVs and other light trucks to pollute more than cars would slash U.S. carbon dioxide emissions by 240 million tons per year. Senators signing the letter range from Fritz Hollings (D-SC) to Gordon Smith (R-OR) and Patty Murray (D-WA) to Jim Jeffords (R-VT). Up to Top |
