Lawmaker is principal House author of the first mandated increase in fuel economy standards since 1975

 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) hailed President Obama’s announcement today that he has directed EPA and DOT to build upon its fuel economy standards for cars and SUVs by developing new standards for model years 2017 and beyond. In April, President Obama announced his final roadmap requiring America’s cars and trucks to reach more than 35 miles per gallon in average fuel efficiency by 2016 and at that time Congressman Markey sent a letter requesting that he build upon this success by directing that the next set of standards be quickly developed.

“I congratulate President Obama on his actions to reduce our dependence on oil”, said Rep. Markey.  “As we have learned in the past month, even a dependence on domestically produced oil is a dangerous one.  These new standards will help to ensure that one day, we will no longer have to import oil from countries who wish to harm us, or remove it from a mile beneath the ocean off our shores.”

The letter Congressman Markey sent to President Obama can be found here:

http://globalwarming.house.gov/files/LTTR/Admin/04-01-10_ObamaFuelEconom...