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Energy:
Raise Fuel Economy Standards Amendment

Our Position: support
Bill Number: S.AMDT.902 to H.R.6
Sponsor: Richard Durbin (D-IL)
Legislative Session: 2005

Senator Durbin (D-IL) proposed this amendment to the disastrous energy bill that would curb global warming and cut our nation's dependence on oil.  The amendment would have raised the average fuel economy of new cars and trucks - the single biggest step the U.S could take to curb global warming, cut the country's dependence on oil, and save consumers money at the gas pump. It would have saved more oil than we currently import from the Persian Gulf and could ever extract from the Arctic Refuge and California Shelf, combined.

Status

Background

Congress first enacted Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards in 1975 in response to the oil embargo. CAFE standards have proven to be the most successful energy saving provision ever passed by Congress, cutting our oil dependence by nearly 3 million barrels per day. Yet, under the original law, light trucks were held to a lower fuel economy standard than cars. As SUVs and other light trucks sales have grown over the last decade, they have caused the overall fuel economy of our new cars, trucks, and SUVs to fall. In 2003, the average fuel economy of new vehicles sold fell to a 23 year low. Now more than ever, we need to cut our oil dependence, curb global warming, and save consumers money at the gas pump.

Making our vehicles go farther on a gallon of gas isn't rocket science, its just good engineering. Innovative technologies, like hybrid engines, smarter transmissions, and sleeker aerodynamics are in some vehicles today, but should be in all. Instead of using these technologies to protect our environment and save oil, Detroit and the other automakers are failing the environment and consumers.