WASHINGTON D.C. – Congressman Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee and a senior Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, released the following statement praising today’s announcement of the first-ever fuel economy and carbon pollution standards for medium and heavy duty trucks made between 2014 and 2018. The new standards will help reduce the nation's oil consumption by 530 million barrels and greenhouse gas pollution by approximately 270 million metric tons. Rep. Markey is co-author of the original fuel efficiency standard adopted by Congress in 2007 requiring the maximum feasible fuel economy standards to be set each year.
 
“I applaud the Obama administration for its leadership in reaching this important agreement. Alongside the historic new fuel efficiency standard for passenger vehicles, America is now in the driver’s seat on the road to ending our over-reliance on imported oil and OPEC’s stranglehold on America's economy. Instead of importing more and more foreign oil, America can now depend on the trucks and buses on our roads and highways to go farther, run cleaner, and cost less to operate. American businesses will save billions of dollars in fuel savings, manufacturers will innovate with new technologies, and families will breathe cleaner air.”
 
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