President George W. Bush signs into law H.R. 6, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2007, at the U.S. Department of Energy in Washington, D.C. White House photo by Joyce N. Boghosian

WASHINGTON, D.C. – President George W. Bush today signed into law a bipartisan measure sponsored by Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) to increase fuel economy for cars and light trucks to 35 miles per gallon by the year 2020.  This raises fuel economy standards for cars for the first time since 1975.  The provision was included as part of H.R. 6, the Renewable Fuels, Consumer Protection, and Energy Efficiency Act of 2007 which passed the Senate on December 13, 2007 and the House on December 18, 2007.  Senator Stevens was the first member of Congress this year to introduce legislation (S.183) to increase fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks and pushed the Senate to pass a bipartisan agreement in June as part of H.R. 6. 

“This historic agreement will raise fuel economy standards for the first time in decades,” said Senator Stevens.  “The only way our nation will achieve energy independence is through a combination of initiatives such as conservation, domestic production, and the development of alternative sources of energy.  Not only will increasing fuel economy standards limit our nation’s dependence on foreign oil, it will also significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

Senator Stevens brokered this measure to raise fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks in H.R. 6, which includes the following requirements:

• requires the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), beginning in 2011, to annually increase the nationwide fleet fuel economy by establishing separate fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks to achieve a fleet-wide average of 35 miles per gallon by 2020.  For the years 2021-2030, car and light truck fuel economy standards will increase at the maximum feasible rate; and

• requires NHTSA to establish a program for medium and heavy duty trucks (including work trucks) to set fuel economy standards at the maximum feasible rate.
  
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