EDF Joins Crowds in Pittsburgh to Call for Strong Clean Car Standards

(Pittsburgh – September 26, 2018) The Trump administration heard more opposition to its proposed rollback of America’s Clean Car Standards at its third and final public hearing today in Pittsburgh.

EDF attorney Erin Murphy joined other concerned Americans to testify against the proposed rollback – and for strong, protective Clean Car Standards.

“As my dad always says, especially when working on his car, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The existing standards protect our climate, clean air and public health — and are supported by years of analysis,” said Murphy in her testimony.

The Clean Car Standards, in effect since 2012, reduce climate pollution, improve fuel efficiency, and save Americans money at the gas pump. Last month the Trump administration proposed drastically weakening them – an extreme step that doesn’t even have support from major automakers like Ford and Honda.

The Trump administration’s widely criticized proposal is based on controversial scientific and economic data. Experts have debunked administration claims that the rollback would make cars safer, and an analysis by MJ Bradley and Associates found the average family will spend $200 more every year if we rollback the standards –  and could spend as much as $500 more every year if gas prices continue to rise. And the administration’s own analysis found the proposed rollback will cost 60,000 American jobs.

The proposed rollback also attacks the right of states to protect people against harmful pollution – an action that is contrary to their well-established authority to play a leading role in addressing car and truck pollution.

The administration held its first hearing on the proposed rollback of the Clean Car Standards in Fresno, California on Monday, and held a second hearing in Dearborn, Michigan yesterday. Both of those hearings also drew large crowds of people who spoke against the proposed rollback – including representatives of Ford Motor Company and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles in Dearborn.

Americans can also write to the administration about the proposed rollback – now through October 26 – during the public comment period.

You can read Murphy’s full testimony here, and read more about the Clean Car Standards on EDF’s website.