For Immediate Release                                                           Contact:  Kristen Hawn 202-226-9782
August 1, 2007

Blue Dog Coalition Endorses Hill’s CAFE Standards Bill

Washington, DC – Today, members of the fiscally conservative Democratic Blue Dog Coalition announced their endorsement of Congressman Baron Hill’s legislation to increase Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards.  The bill, H.R. 2927, raises CAFE standards significantly while protecting American jobs. 

“I am very pleased that this fine group of distinguished Members of Congress has endorsed my bill to increase fuel economy standards,” said Congressman Hill (D-IN).  “It presents a thoughtful and effective alternative to proposals already out there by my colleagues that would, more than likely, result in the loss of thousands of jobs in this country.”

“I applaud Congressman Hill for his leadership on this issue,” said Congressman Mike Ross (D-AR), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Communications.  “H.R. 2927 is both reasonable and achievable, striking the appropriate balance between protecting our environment and safeguarding our economy.  I am proud to stand with my Blue Dog colleagues to endorse this common sense piece of legislation.”

H.R. 2927 requires the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to prescribe fuel economy standards at the maximum feasible level for each car model year.  In addition, the bill also requires the Secretary to mandate separate standards for Model Year 2022 such that standards cars and pickup trucks standards will be no less than a combined 32 miles per gallon (mpg) and no more than a combined 35 mpg.  H.R. 2927 keeps in place the current separate standards for regular cars and light trucks, which include sports utility vehicles.  Alternative CAFE legislation largely calls for all automobiles to be grouped into one category.
 
“Congress has a responsibility to enact policies that help kick America’s addiction to foreign oil and protect our environment for future generations. While fuel economy standards are an important part of the solution, we must also be mindful of the role automakers play in the American economy,” said Congressman Brad Ellsworth (D-IN). “The Hill-Terry bill strikes the right balance between reducing America’s reliance on foreign oil, protecting our environment, and ensuring the nation’s automakers remain competitive. It’s a responsible policy and I am glad to support it.”

“America’s fuel economic standards are not only outdated, but they’ve put our domestic automobile manufactures at a competitive disadvantage in the global economy,” said Congressman John Barrow (D-GA).  “Raising those standards is a priority of the 110th Congress, but it has to be done in a responsible way that understands the needs of our rural and agricultural communities.  The Hill-Terry Bill is the most comprehensive legislation of its kind, carefully balancing fuel efficiency technology with the towing and torque demands of many small businesses across the country.” 

H.R. 2927 also establishes a public education program to inform consumers how best to conserve fuel when using their vehicles and how consistently replacing car tires can have a real impact on the fuel economy of vehicles.  The bill is currently pending in the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce with the support of 137 cosponsors.

“As co-chair of the Blue Dog Energy Task Force and as a co-sponsor of the Hill-Terry bill, the fuel efficiency standards it sets are, in my view, the right standards for the country to adopt,” said Congressman Jim Matheson (D-UT).

Recently, the Blue Dog Coalition endorsed a set of energy principles, which represent a moderate and comprehensive approach to our nation’s energy policy that emphasizes a focus on national and economic security.  The “Blue Dog Energy Principles” represent a broad range of stakeholders, with the underlying belief that our country’s current reliance on foreign energy supplies threatens our national security and our ability to compete in the global marketplace.

The fiscally conservative Democratic Blue Dog Coalition was formed in 1995 with the goal of representing the center of the House of Representatives and appealing to the mainstream values of the American public.  The Blue Dogs are dedicated to a core set of beliefs that transcend partisan politics, including a deep commitment to the financial stability and national security of the United States. Currently there are 47 members of the Blue Dog Coalition.  For more information, visit the Blue Dog website at http://www.house.gov/ross/BlueDogs/.