[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 66 (Wednesday, May 24, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E820]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 
                                  2001

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                               speech of

                          HON. BRUCE F. VENTO

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 19, 2000

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4475) making 
     appropriations for the Department of Transportation and 
     related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
     2001, and for other purposes.

  Mr. VENTO. Mr. Chairman, I rise to express my concerns regarding the 
FY 2001 Transportation Appropriation rider, which would continue to 
freeze the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards at current 
levels.
  The CAFE standards passed by Congress in 1975 comprise one of the 
most successful environmental policies enacted in the past thirty 
years. Fuel efficiency standards save consumers millions of dollars at 
the gas pump while decreasing pollution and U.S. dependence on fossil 
fuels and foreign oil. Current CAFE standards save more than 3 million 
barrels of oil per day, and more than $40 billion at the gas pump each 
year.
  While the current provisions have been effective, the increase in the 
number of light trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) on the road 
warrants a revision of CAFE emission standards. Light trucks and SUVs 
now account for 47.5% of vehicles sold in the United States. Yet, they 
are held to a lower fuel efficiency standard than passenger 
automobiles. The result is that the fuel efficiency of vehicles sold in 
the United States has hit its lowest point since 1980. This is in 
itself circumvention of the policy path, as these vehicles are 
certainly a substitute for the family automobile. When you add the 
freeze of CAFE standards, it compounds the energy inefficiency of our 
present policy and law.
  The environmental benefits of reducing emissions cannot be 
underestimated. Holding SUVs to the same standards as passenger cars 
would reduce emission of carbon dioxide by 30 tons over the life of the 
automobile. Increasing CAFE standards for light trucks would reduce 
urban smog and the buildup of greenhouse gases, an important step in 
the battle against global warming. Furthermore, increasing CAFE 
standards would bring the United States closer to a 7% reduction from 
1990 carbon dioxide levels, as required by the Kyoto Agreement.
  The recent spike in oil prices highlights anew the need to reduce 
U.S. dependence on fossil fuels and foreign oil supplies. The United 
States has the technological capability to produce clean and efficient 
energy. It is essential that Congress support these goals, and stop 
prohibiting revision of CAFE standards. I urge my colleagues to work 
today to preserve the environment for tomorrow. Oppose the CAFE-freeze 
rider attached to the FY 2001 Transportation Appropriation bill.

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