Matsui Statement on President Obama's Announcement of New Fuel Standards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, July 29, 2011

CONTACT: MARA LEE
(202) 225-7163

Matsui Statement on President Obama's Announcement of New Fuel Standards

Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) released a statement today after President Obama's announcement that the White House and automakers have agreed to increase fuel-economy standards from the current goal of 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016 to 54.5 mpg by 2025. The new standards will reduce oil consumption by 2.2 million barrels a day and cut greenhouse-gas emissions by 6 billion metric tons by 2025, and is expected to save an average family more than $8,000 in fuel costs over time. The new deal nearly doubles the 2011 standard of 27.3 mpg.

Congresswoman Matsui's statement is as follows:

I applaud the President for putting forth an aggressive strategy to improve fuel standards and to double the average fuel economy for autos to 55 miles per gallon by 2025. I am confident that we can reach these benchmarks by putting American innovation and ingenuity to work.

The recent spikes in gas prices have reminded us of why it is so important to reduce our dependence on oil. Achieving these fuel efficiency standards will not only mean reducing pollution and carbon emissions, it also will help Americans save money at the pump. And by reducing the amount of oil the U.S. demands, we reduce our dependence on foreign oil, making our nation more independent, more sustainable, and ultimately more secure.

I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress, with the Administration, the automobile industry, and consumer and environment advocates to make this ambition a reality and as a result seriously reduce our country's oil consumption. Our environment, our economy, our security, and our pocketbooks all depend on it.

For more information about the consumer and oil savings, and the environmental benefits of this program, please reference a new report, released today by the Administration.

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