Washington - Today, Senators Dianne Feinstein and Kamala D. Harris (both D-Calif.), and thirty two of their colleagues introduced a Senate concurring resolution in response to the Trump Administration’s proposal to roll back the federal fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions standards. The resolution asserts California’s authority to set its own tailpipe emissions standards and supports the current One National Program. Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (D-Calif.) has introduced the companion resolution in the House of Representatives and is joined by 60 cosponsors.  

“President Trump may want to ignore the science but he can’t ignore the law,” said Senator Feinstein.“The Ten-in-Ten Act requires fuel economy standards to be as strong as possible and the Clean Air Act gives California the authority to regulate tailpipe emissions. Congress has made it clear that fuel economy standards are important and we’re not going to let the Trump administration undermine them now.”

“California has long served as a model for the nation in the fight against climate change and efforts to ensure we can all breathe clean air,” said Senator Harris. “The administration has again put a target on California’s back and they have chosen to protect pollution over people. Rolling back the fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions standards will jeopardize air quality improvements and efforts to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. This decision is not based on scientific evidence and will ultimately cost Americans money at the pump. I will fight for California’s waiver and support policies that move the industry forward, provide savings for consumers, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and help combat climate change.”

 “Simply put, this is an attack on clean air and public health. And as other countries keep their focus on increasing fuel efficiency and reducing emissions, we run the risk of losing out on this progress and innovation,” said Congressman DeSaulnier. “By rolling back current fuel economy standards, the Trump Administration will cost the United States $450 billion by 2050 and increase health risks associated with air pollution. Our resolution puts the Administration on alert that this move will be met with strong and coordinated opposition across the country.”

“The clean car standards are already saving our families billions at the pump, supporting nearly 300,000 American jobs, and cleaning up dangerous tailpipe pollution,” said Rhea Suh, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council. “Members of Congress should join with these leaders to try and stop the Trump administration from throwing this important progress into reverse.”

“The Clean Car Standards have saved drivers more than $60 billion while helping clean up our air and fight climate change” said Tiernan Sittenfeld, SVP for Government Affairs at the League of Conservation Voters. “Gutting this innovation-spurring policy is nothing more than a transparent sellout to Big Oil, and we applaud Senator Harris and other environmental champions in Congress for leading the effort to protect these commonsense standards.”

The One National Program has the support of a broad coalition of business, labor, consumer, and environmental groups. This resolution is supported by numerous environmental organizations, including the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) and the Sierra Club.

Senators Feinstein and Harris were joined in the introduction of the resolution by Senators Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), and Bill Nelson (D-Fla.).

A PDF of the resolution can be found here.

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