WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today Congressman Steve Austria (R-Beavercreek) met with a group of Ohio auto dealers to discuss challenges facing the auto industry and the Congressman’s amendment to the FY2012 Interior Appropriations Bill which would help streamline guidelines for regulating auto emission standards.  

Groups from Ohio and across the nation are currently in Washington, D.C. to show their support for Austria’s amendment and ask their hometown representatives to ensure that it is included in any final appropriations package.

“This amendment attempts to level the playing field by allowing one nationwide standard with oversight from only one federal agency,” Congressman Austria said. “Congress has already put in place certain standards, set by NHTSA, with accountability to Congress. It is not necessary for the EPA to add their own duplicative and burdensome regulations with no Congressional oversight.”

“We are so appreciated of Congressman Austria for stepping in to say we need a market-driven choice as opposed to a bureaucratic imposed guideline,” said Tim Doran, President of the Ohio Automobile Dealers Association.

Congress has given the power to regulate these emission standards to the Department of Transportation, and reinforced that intent by approving updated fuel efficiency standards as recently as 2007. The EPA, without Congressional authority, has issued their own different set of vehicle emission standards creating confusion and uncertainty for industry. Congressman Austria’s amendment will eliminate that confusion by ensuring that only one single standard is used to regulate vehicle emissions and prevent the EPA from moving forward with their next wave of unauthorized, duplicative regulations on these emissions. The amendment was included in the Fiscal Year 2012 Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill which passed the full Appropriations Committee in July.

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