SECTION: CAPITOL HILL HEARING TESTIMONY

LENGTH: 370 words

COMMITTEE: SENATE COMMERCE, SCIENCE AND TRANSPORTATION

HEADLINE: CAFE STANDARDS

TESTIMONY-BY: JOHN MCCAIN, SENATOR

BODY:
JANUARY 24, 2002

STATEMENT OF SENATOR JOHN McCAIN RANKING REPUBLICAN,

SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION

HEARING ON CORPORATE AVERAGE FUEL ECONOMY (CAFE) REFORM

I thank the Chairman for convening this morning's hearing to discuss Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. This is an extremely important issue for the future generations of this country. I hope that today's testimony will assist the Committee as we work together to develop a balanced approach to address this complex issue. While I applaud the Administration's recent commitment to developing hydrogenpowered fuel cell vehicles, and its "FreedomCAR" partnership with private industry, I do not believe that it would be sound policy for the federal government to place all of its eggs in the basket of the hydrogen fuel cell program. As we eagerly anticipate the results of that program, we must, at the same time, take the necessary steps to improve fuel efficiency without unduly compromising

safety or prejudicing American automobile manufacturers and their workers.

Last year's National Academy of Sciences (NAS) report concluded that the benefits resulting from CAFE clearly warrant government intervention to ensure fuel economy levels beyond what may result from market forces alone. The NAS committee found that CAFE has caused marked improvements in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, fuel consumption, and dependence on foreign oil. The NAS warned, however, that CAFE standards have probably resulted in increased traffic fatalities due to the downsizing and downweighting of vehicles by manufacturers in their efforts to comply with the standards. As the Commerce Committee further examines this issue, it is imperative that we account for any unintended consequences of our actions. As the NAS committee suggests, we can achieve better fuel economy without having to compromise passenger safety.

The debate over CAFE is complex because it requires striking a careful balance among many factors, most notably, technology, the environment, public safety, and the economy. This is a debate, however, that is overdue.

Thank you Mr. Chairman, and I look forward to the testimony today.



LOAD-DATE: January 24, 2002