Washington (April 26, 2021) -- Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency announced the beginning of its process to reconsider the SAFE Vehicles Rule Part One that withdrew California’s waiver to set its own greenhouse gas emissions standards for vehicles.

 

“Everyone has a right to clean air and a livable climate. Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in this country and a significant source of toxic pollutants, and the Trump administration’s attacks on vehicle greenhouse gas emissions standards only put Americans at greater risk,” said Senator Markey. “I applaud the Environmental Protection Agency in its reconsideration of the illegal pre-emption of California’s longstanding statutory authority to impose its own greenhouse gas emissions standards on new cars and trucks, which also took aim at the authority of more than a dozen other states, including Massachusetts, to fight climate change and keep our residents healthy.”

 

“In the United States, more than 45 million people live within 300 feet of a major roadway, a population that is both growing and made up disproportionately of people of color and low-income individuals. The air pollution from these roadways decreases respiratory health, and as we approach 600,000 deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more vital than ever to prioritize pollution reduction on roads. After four years of falling behind on our climate goals, I hope that the Environmental Protection Agency will continue to be bold as they both reconsider this part of the SAFE rule, and look toward strengthening the national vehicle greenhouse gas emission standards.”

On March 24, 2021, Senator Markey and Representative Matsui were joined 79 other members of Congress in letters to President Biden urging the administration to set ambitious fuel economy and vehicle greenhouse gas emission standards.