Senator Feinstein sent a letter last year asking automakers to join the effort to maintain one national program

Washington—Senator Feinstein released the following statement after 17 automakers called on President Trump to return to the negotiating table with California and maintain the single national program for vehicle emission standards:

“It’s clear the automakers want a single national set of fuel economy standards and don’t want the market chaos President Trump is creating by refusing to work with California. I’m pleased that the car companies have joined this fight.

“I remember the days of intense smog and vehicle pollution in California when you couldn’t see beyond two blocks in parts of Los Angeles. California is now in the vanguard of fighting climate change and reducing auto emissions is critical to that effort. We’re not going to backtrack.

 “Thanks to the single national standard negotiated between California and the federal government in 2012, cars are emitting less pollution, families are saving money at the pump and auto manufacturers are meeting the standards at lower-than-expected costs. There is simply no reason to roll back that progress.

“I call on President Trump to listen to the automakers and return to the negotiating table with California. If the president refuses, I fully support California Attorney General Xavier Becerra’s pledge to protect our state’s emissions standards in court.”

Background

• In letters last year to automakers, Senators Feinstein and Kamala D. Harris (both D-Calif.) asked them to call on the Trump administration to work with California to maintain the national fuel economy standards.
  
  
• Senator Feinstein was the lead sponsor of the bipartisan Ten-in-Ten Fuel Economy Act. The bill passed in 2007 requires the administration to set the maximum feasible fuel economy standards, which are currently scheduled to increase to more than 50 mpg by 2025.
  
  
• Under the Clean Air Act, California has unique authority to set its own tailpipe emissions, which 16 other states have mirrored. Prior to the Trump administration, California worked with the federal government to maintain a single national program.
  
  
• Senator Feinstein is the lead cosponsor of a bill introduced by Senator Markey (D-Mass.) that would block the Trump Administration from taking any action that would effectively reduce the stringency of the fuel economy standards.
  
  
• Senator Feinstein is the lead cosponsor of a resolution introduced by Senator Harris supporting a single set of national fuel economy standards and recognizing California’s authority to set strong emissions standards.