[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 17996]
[From the U.S. 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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