United States
Senate Washington, DC 20510
Re: Support
the Gorton-Feinstein-Bryan Clean Car
Resolution
Dear Senator:
The
League of Conservation Voters (LCV) is the nonpartisan,
political voice of the national environmental movement.
Each year, LCV publishes the National Environmental
Scorecard, which details the voting records of
Members of Congress on environmental legislation. The
Scorecard is distributed to LCV members,
concerned voters nationwide and the press.
When
the Senate considers the FY 2000 Transportation
Appropriations bill, the League of Conservation Voters
urges you to support a Clean Car Resolution, which
Senators Gorton (R-WA), Feinstein (D-CA) and Bryan
(D-NV) plan to introduce.
The Clean Car
Resolution calls on the Senate not to recede to a
House-proposed rider in the Transportation
Appropriations Bill that prohibits the Department from
increasing automotive miles per gallon (CAFE) standards.
The CAFE freeze rider blocks implementation of the most
effective energy savings measures Congress has ever
adopted.
By preventing the Transportation
Department from improving CAFE standards, the rider
denies Americans the benefits of existing fuel saving
technologies. While the standard for passenger cars is
27.5 mpg, the CAFE standard for light trucks, which are
predominantly used as passenger vehicles, is only 20.7
mpg. These gas-guzzlers comprise nearly 50% of the new
vehicle market, driving up demand for oil and increasing
pollution.
The rider blocks new miles per gallon
standards that would build upon the substantial oil and
consumer savings as well as pollution reductions of the
existing standards. The existing CAFE standards save
more than 3 million barrels of oil every day. They
reduce pollution by eliminating 500,000 tons per year of
upstream carcinogenic hydrocarbon emissions and by
keeping millions of tons of carbon dioxide, a global
warming gas, out of the atmosphere.
We can
cost-effectively and safely raise fuel economy standards
using existing technology. The CAFE law provides
guidance to the Department of Transportation in
considering higher CAFE standards. It requires the
Department to consider technical feasibility, economic
practicability, the effect of other Federal motor
vehicle standards on fuel economy, and the need to
conserve energy. A rulemaking process considering these
factors will provide ample opportunity for the auto
industry to protect their interests.
As the
Senate considers the FY 2000 Transportation
Appropriations bill, the League of Conservation Voters
urges you to support Sens. Gorton, Feinstein and Bryan's
efforts to clean up America's automobiles. LCV will
consider votes on these issues when compiling its
Scorecard. Please address any questions to Betsy
Loyless at 202-785-8683.
Sincerely,
Deb Callahan
President
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