[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 110 (Wednesday, August 1, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H4993]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          SUPPORT AMERICAN PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO DRIVE SAFER CARS

  (Mr. KNOLLENBERG asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, today the House will consider an 
amendment to the energy bill that will raise CAFE standards. Let us be 
clear, this amendment will be doing nothing more than punishing the 
auto industry for the sin of making cars that people want to buy.
  If this amendment becomes law, Americans will be forced to drive 
smaller cars that are less safe than what we drive now, and we will see 
more traffic fatalities. But do not take my word for it. The recent 
report by the National Academy of Sciences confirms that the downsizing 
of vehicles in order to comply with current CAFE standards costs 
American lives. There is a clear correlation between size and risk.
  Mr. Speaker, are we ready to sacrifice safety to reduce consumption? 
I hope not. I urge my colleagues to oppose any increase in CAFE 
standards beyond what is already in the bill, and support the American 
people's right to drive safe cars.

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