MR.CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU FOR CALLING THIS IMPORTANT HEARING, AND I THANK THE WITNESSES FOR THEIR WILLINGNESS TO APPEAR.

 

THE ISSUE OF FUEL ECONOMY OF OUR CARS AND LIGHT TRUCKS IS SIGNIFICANT AS OUR COUNTRY FACES AN ENERGY CRISIS.  THE SEPTEMBER 11 TERRORIST ATTACKS AND THE CURRENT STRUGGLES IN THE MIDDLE EAST HAVE BROUGHT INTO FOCUS THE NEED TO REDUCE OUR DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL.  BUT ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM WILL REQUIRE A COMBINATION OF INITIATIVES.  CONSERVATION, DOMESTIC PRODUCTION, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES ARE ALL PART OF THE SOLUTION. 

 

IN JANUARY, I INTRODUCED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ADDRESS CONSERVATION, AND WITH IT, A REDUCTION IN GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS – AS THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ARE MORE EVIDENT IN ALASKA THAN ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY. 

 

THE BILL, S. 183, THE IMPROVED PASSENGER AUTOMOBILE FUEL ECONOMY ACT,  WOULD MAKE CLEAR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION’S AUTHORITY TO REFORM FUEL ECONOMY STANDARDS FOR PASSENGER CARS, AND REQUIRE THAT THE DOMESTIC PASSENGER CAR FLEET ACHIEVE A MINIMUM FUEL ECONOMY OF 40 MILES PER GALLON BY MODEL YEAR 2017.   

 

HOWEVER, THE LEGISLATION DOES NOT CONTEMPLATE AN INCREASE IN FUEL ECONOMY STANDARDS FOR LIGHT TRUCKS GIVEN THE RECENT REFORMS MADE BY THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION TO THE LIGHT TRUCK CAFE PROGRAM.  I APPLAUD THE SECRETARY FOR TAKING THAT ACTION, AND BELIEVE THAT CONGRESS SHOULD ALLOW THE REFORMED PROGRAM TO TAKE EFFECT BEFORE TAKING MORE ACTION.

 

WHILE I AM FULLY AWARE OF THE AGGRESSIVENESS OF THE TARGET STANDARD SET FORTH IN S. 183, IT IS DESIGNED TO BEGIN A DISCUSSION THAT I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING WITH THE CHAIRMAN, AND THE REST OF THE COMMITTEE, AS WE DEVELOP A THOUGHTFUL BIPARTISAN PRODUCT.