Washington, DC – Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) slammed Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt’s decision today to begin unraveling important vehicle fuel efficiency standards that protect the health and safety of all Americans:
“Fuel efficiency saves drivers money, lessens our reliance on foreign oil, and cuts carbon pollution. The auto industry agreed, adding that strong standards help them plan and invest wisely. They gave their word.
“Automakers have the technology to meet the standards, and nothing has changed but fossil fuel stooge Scott Pruitt at EPA wanting to please his fossil fuel industry patrons. That shouldn’t cause U.S. automakers to break their word.”
Whitehouse, Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety, has been a strong proponent of the vehicle efficiency standards established during the Obama administration. Read Whitehouse’s:
- December remarks on the standards;
- October op-ed calling on automakers to keep their word and back the standards; and
- Joint letter with Senators Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and Kamala Harris (D-CA) calling for protecting strong standards.
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