The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“ALLOW AMERICANS TO PURCHASE VEHICLES THAT FIT THEIR NEEDS” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Transportation was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H7840 on Sept. 20, 2019.
The Department handles nearly all infrastructure crisscrossing the country. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, said the Department should be privatized to save money, reduce congestion and spur innovation.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
ALLOW AMERICANS TO PURCHASE VEHICLES THAT FIT THEIR NEEDS
(Mr. LaMALFA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. LaMALFA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to applaud the efforts of U.S. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler and Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao with regard to the unreasonable automobile fuel mileage standards put upon consumers by a 2015 Obama-era rule.
In only 5 model years from now, all U.S. cars would have to average 55 miles per gallon under this current standard. Most people drive cars these days that are somewhere around 25 to 33 miles per gallon. They would be forced into very small cars that don't fit their family's needs.
What the administration is seeking to do is freeze this timeline at 37 miles per gallon until technology can catch up, et cetera, so people can choose to buy cars that fit their lives. Under the old rule and what the California Air Resources Board is trying to foist upon all 50 States in meeting the Obama rule, they will not have that choice anymore.
Unfortunately, a few scared automakers have sat down with CARB to try to cut a deal to fix the one they agreed to a few years ago with no real idea of how they would meet 55 miles per gallon with current technology and physics at the time. At this point, there are very few 55-mile-per-gallon vehicles to even choose from. Most people don't want to buy those cars because it doesn't fit their family, their life, what they want, and what they desire.
CARB is trying to foist that on all 50 States, and auto manufacturers will be herded toward it by desiring to make the same car type for all 50 States, not just California. This needs to be stopped, and we must draw the line here.
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