Hi friends,

I’m sure you saw that President Trump is in Detroit, MI today and has signed an Executive Order (EO) directing the EPA to reopen the process for the final determination for fuel economy standards for cars and light-duty trucks for the 2022-2025 model years. It’s been widely reported that this is just the first step in an all-out effort by the Trump Administration to roll back policies from the Obama Administration that have helped drive US carbon pollution to its lowest level in decades and made the US a leader in clean energy. These short-sighted efforts will leave U.S. workers in the dust as China and other countries race ahead investing in clean energy and combating climate change.

With this in mind we wanted you to have the key points on the impact of this move and the importance of the fuel economy standards. Also, please find Leader Schumer’s statement below, objecting to this EO, which will roll back fuel economy standards that are saving Americans money, reducing dependence on foreign oil, creating jobs, and helping combat climate change and air pollution.

Best,
Alex

KEY POINTS ON Executive Order

v Rolling back vehicle emission standards hurts consumers, creates uncertainty for businesses, increases air pollution, damages our climate, and only really helps Big Oil.
v Consumers are the big winner if the vehicle emissions standards are fully implemented – saving $1.7 trillion in fuel costs, an average savings of more than $8,000 a vehicle by 2025. A recent poll found that 84% of Americans want automakers to continue improving fuel economy for all types of vehicles.
v Cleaner cars and trucks help reduce our dependence on foreign oil. If the vehicle emissions standards are fully implemented, we will cut oil consumption by 2.4 million barrels per day.
v Undoing vehicle standards is shortsighted since it leaves businesses who are already doing their part to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the lurch, unsure about what is to come.
v The transportation sector is the second-biggest source of U.S. emissions. If we are serious about tackling climate change and leaving a better world for future generations, then we have to address carbon pollution from the cars and trucks that we drive every day.

LEADER SCHUMER STATEMENT Schumer Statement on President Trump’s Announcement to Roll Back EPA Fuel Economy Standards

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today released the below statement after President Trump announced a rollback of the Environmental Protection Agency’s fuel economy standards:

“Today’s announcement is one of the first steps in an all-out assault by the Trump administration to dismantle important environmental protections – like fuel economy standards — that are saving Americans money, reducing our nation’s dependence on foreign oil, creating jobs, and combating climate change and air pollution. The Trump administration’s decision to roll back fuel economy standards is a mistake and a surefire way to reverse the good progress we’ve made to combat climate change. While President Trump and EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt may not accept climate science, Americans do and want us to do all we can to limit rising sea levels, ocean acidification, and extreme weather, and ensure the health and safety of our kids and communities is protected.”