Washington (March 29, 2016) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), members of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, today released the following joint statement after the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a complaint charging Volkswagen with deceiving consumers about emissions in its “clean diesel” advertisements.

“VW’s clean diesel technology was an oxymoron and they knew it when they advertised these vehicles to drivers. We hope the FTC’s effort charging VW with deceptive practices is the first of many actions taken to protect VW drivers. Consumers were deceived and deserve full compensation for these illegal actions by VW. These VW defeat devices perpetrated a crime against our environment with increased emissions, and it may prove that VW committed a crime against consumers by lying to them about their vehicles. We hope the outcome of this case results in a settlement that begins the long road toward financial compensation of VW drivers.”

Last month, Senators Markey and Blumenthal and Reps. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) and Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) introduced the Compensating Losses to the Environment from Automobiles with Noxious Undisclosed Pollution (CLEAN-UP) Act, legislation that would deny Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) credits to any auto manufacturer that circumvents emissions control requirements. The Senators also have urged VW to ensure that owners of VW vehicles containing emission defeat devices are offered multiple options for adequate compensation for the damages and inconveniences incurred on them by the company’s deception.

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