Washington (March 29, 2024) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), chair of the EPW Subcommittee on Clean Air, Climate, and Nuclear Safety, Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), also a member of the EPW Committee, and Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) released the following statement today after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the final greenhouse gas emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs). Heavy-duty vehicles are responsible for one quarter of the greenhouse gas emissions from our nation’s transportation sector, affecting fenceline and frontline communities, which are disproportionately exposed to resulting air pollution. The final rule is expected to reduce cumulative emissions by 1 billion metric tons and projected to result in $300 million in annual public health benefits through 2055 and $3.5 billion in savings for truck owners over the lifetime of their vehicles.

“We commend the Environmental Protection Agency for taking an important step forward today to curb emissions from heavy-duty vehicles, like our school buses and freight trucks.

“This rule is a win-win. It will support the United States in reaching our climate goals while protecting the public health of Americans across the country. This rule will benefit disadvantaged communities located near freight corridors, which are disproportionately exposed to air pollution, and the millions of children who are currently riding dirty diesel buses to school each day.

“We thank the Biden administration for their work to build a clean transportation future for America.”

In September 2023, Senators Markey, Carper, Padilla, and Heinrich led a bicameral letter to EPA urging the agency to finalize the strongest feasible greenhouse gas emission standards for HDVs as part of their Phase 3 rule. 

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