[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 104 (Tuesday, July 15, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S9401]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]







                 COMMENDING CHARLES E. ``CHUCK'' FRANK



 Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I wish to offer praise of Charles 

E. ``Chuck'' Frank of Chicago, IL, for his ongoing efforts to improve 

our environment. Mr. Frank's stance on environmental issues deserves 

particular commendation because in addition to being an active 

supporter of the environment, he is in the business of selling cars and 

trucks at one of the Chicago area's largest car dealerships, which was 

founded by his legendary father, ``Z'' Frank.

  Mr. Frank's love for the outdoors started in the early years of his 

life when he spent hours camping, fishing, and pursuing other 

activities immersed in nature. His love and respect for the environment 

did not stop with childhood. Mr. Frank has made a personal and 

professional commitment to protect the environment that he so loved to 

ensure that future generations will be able to experience the same 

natural wonders that he was able to. This commitment led Mr. Frank to 

join the Sierra Club in 1975, and now he is a lifetime member and Vice 

President of the Sierra Club Foundation.

  Mr. Frank has demonstrated his commitment to the environment he loves 

by working with the Sierra Club to secure a significant increase in the 

Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards. Offering a unique perspective 

from inside the automobile industry, he believes the current CAFE 

standards of 27.5 miles per gallon for cars and 20.7 miles per gallon 

for trucks are standards the fail to meet consumers' demands both for 

more cost-effective vehicles and solutions to the worsening problems of 

air pollution and global warming. He believes the technology in his 

industry can surpass the current standards, and believes that an 

increase to 40 miles per gallon for cars and 27.5 miles per gallon for 

trucks is entirely possible. Mr. Frank strongly advocates increasing 

the CAFE standards to these proposed levels to ensure stronger customer 

satisfaction and improved environmental conditions.

  Mr. Frank has termed his business, ``The Country's #1 Conscientious 

Chevy Dealer,'' In Mr. Frank's case, this slogan goes beyond simple 

rhetoric and is absolutely true of his approach to his business. Mr. 

Frank believes so strongly in the need for an increase in the CAFE that 

he has pledged part of his business profits to the Sierra Club Clean 

Air Campaign. He is currently running advertisements in the Chicago 

area that detail the need for a raise in the CAFE standards and offer 

consumers an opportunity to have Mr. Frank's car dealership donate $200 

to the Sierra Club for each car or truck sold. I commend Mr. Frank for 

demonstrating that issues that affect our Nation's public health and 

environment are just as important as the bottom line.

  The tireless work that Chuck Frank has done as a champion of the 

environment and as a manager in the automobile industry should be an 

inspiration for us all to enact legislation to raise the CAFE 

standards. Mr. Frank's unique position demonstrates that business and 

environmental issues can go hand-in-hand. I thank Chuck Frank for his 

unwavering support for consumers of this country and the environment, 

and I am confident that his work will help move us toward the increase 

in CAFE standards that is so needed in this country.



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