Prohibiting the Use of Funds to Implement, Administer, or Enforce Certain Rules of the Environmental Protection Agency

Floor Speech

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Mr. MARKEY. Madam President, I am here today to defend the Environmental Protection Agency's vehicle emissions standards-- standards that will cut air pollution to tackle the climate crisis, protect public health, and save drivers money at the pump. These standards for passenger vehicles, cars, SUVs and light trucks will help us accelerate toward our climate targets and put the brakes on our dependence on fossil fuels.

Last year, we imported 8.5 million barrels of oil every single day, of petroleum products, including gasoline, while simultaneously exporting more than 10 million barrels a day.

But do you want to hear something? Do you know who we were importing oil from? Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman. And what does this proposal do that the Republicans want to propound here? It is to say: No, we are not going to move to an electric vehicle future. No, we don't want to, in any way, send a signal that we are a technological giant, as the United States, and we are going to back out that imported oil so that we are not contributing those petrodollars to those nations which are ultimately intent on undermining stability.

So this dependence on fossil fuels, traded on the global market and imported into our country, puts drivers at the whim of OPEC. It puts them at the whim of those who are driven by profiteering. It allows Big Oil CEOs to turn drivers upside down at the pump and shake money out of their pockets.

Why do we continue this? We are technological giants. We have an all- electric vehicle future, a hybrid future for our Nation and for the world. Are we going to lead on that or retreat, because that is what is being proposed here?

Gas guzzling cars aren't just bad for drivers; they are bad for all of us. According to the EPA, the transportation sector accounts for 29 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to global warming--actually, the largest single source of climate warming emissions in the United States. And the EPA has a legal, statutory responsibility to set strong clean power standards to help us put this crisis in the rearview mirror.

The final clean car rules are estimated to avoid more than 7 billion metric tons of carbon pollution, equivalent to four times the emissions from the entire transportation sector. This is the single most significant rule we have ever seen in our fight to tackle the climate crisis--more than any other rule in the history of the United States. That is a big deal. That is something to be proud of, and that is something that is worth protecting from political attacks.

In addition to building a livable future, this rule will also save lives right now, providing $13 billion in annual health benefits as a result of reduced air pollution. The clean cars rule isn't banning gas cars, but it is expected to help supercharge our already booming sales of hybrid and all-electric vehicles. These final rules are technically feasible, economically achievable, and technologically neutral, increasing vehicle choice for Americans. This means that families and individuals will still be able to choose from a wide range of vehicle options, including more than 100 different plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles here in the United States.

Automakers are innovating and driving us closer toward a clean energy future. That is why Big Oil hates these vehicle emissions standards. The oil industry is scared to death that $46 billion in reduced annual fuel costs will stay stranded in drivers' pockets instead of in the padded company profits of Big Oil companies.

If you follow the money, it becomes pretty clear why Big Oil would want to attack these standards. All the Republicans have to do is wait outside and drive the getaway car.

That is why I am urging my colleagues to vote no on Senator Crapo's legislation, S. 4072, which would block the EPA from carrying out the final clean cars rule. This bill is irresponsible because it undoes and it undermines future regulations that would protect public health.

The clean cars rule will reduce particulate matter by 95 percent compared to current standards, prevent 2,500 premature deaths, and reduce heart attacks and respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses.

This bill coming up for a vote would, instead, prevent working families from saving money on gas and maintenance repairs. Over the lifetime of the standards, drivers will save $62 billion in fuel and repair costs or $6,000 over the lifetime of a model year 2032 car.

Rolling back these clean car standards is not an option. We have to protect this rule. We have to protect drivers' budgets. We have to protect public health. We have to protect our economy.

That is why a ``no'' vote on this is so important, and I want to thank everyone who is in this fight. I see Chairman Carper and Senator Whitehouse here. This is an absolutely critical rule.

I will say this. Every day, Donald Trump and Big Oil say: Drill, baby, drill.

But the younger generation says: Plug in, baby, plug in.

We are moving to the future. We are moving to an all-electric future, and that is what this vote is all about today. I urge a ``no'' vote on the floor of the Senate.

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