MATSUI, MARKEY, PADILLA, FEINSTEIN URGE EPA FOR STRONGER GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION VEHICLE STANDARDS

WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA), Senators Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), in addition to eight senators and 34 representatives, sent letters to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan in support of strengthening the new greenhouse gas emission vehicle standards.

"While we appreciate the urgency with which the EPA has worked to reinvigorate our federal vehicle greenhouse gas emissions standards, the proposed rule's current preferred option includes loopholes that could harm the Biden administration's efforts to make up for the lost years of climate inaction under the Trump administration," said the lawmakers. "More robust standards are affordable and technologically feasible. Raising the bar and ensuring that the standards are not weakened by unnecessary credits would help avoid the most catastrophic effects of the climate crisis and save money for consumers."

In August, the Biden Administration released their proposed tailpipe emission standards to replace the Trump rule that had rolled back Obama-era standards. The Administration is currently accepting public comments on their proposed rule as well as two alternatives, including a stronger proposal that is closer to the original Obama-Biden standards. The two letters urge the EPA to adopt the stronger alternative and close loopholes in the proposed rule.

The House letter was signed by Representatives Nanette Diaz Barragᮠ(D-CA), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), Mike Levin (D-CA), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Bobby L. Rush (D-IL), Peter Welch (D-VT), Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Karen Bass (D-CA), Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA), Mondaire Jones (D-NY), Brenda L. Lawrence (D-MI), Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Andr頃arson (D-IN), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Jerry McNerney (D-CA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Judy Chu (D-CA), Marie Newman (D-IL), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Jesús G. "Chuy" Garc�(D-IL), Nikema Williams (D-GA).

The Senate letter was signed by Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR).

Congresswoman Matsui has long been a champion of bold climate action and the adoption of ambitious vehicle emission standards. In March of 2021, she led a letter with 70 of her colleagues urging the Biden Administration to take action to reinstate California's Clean Air Act waiver and restore the Obama-Biden tailpipe emission and fuel economy standards. She is also the author of the Clean and Efficient Cars Act, a bill that would codify the Obama-Biden standards which were rolled back during the Trump Administration.

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