Political Quotes

“Starting in 1995, the Congress prevented changes in fuel economy standards for all vehicles. Such restrictions were lifted starting with the model year 2004. In 1992, the Senate marked up a bill with CAFE, I might add, and ANWR, and dropped it in conference. The only thing we got out of that was low-flush toilets. That was the tradeoff: We traded off ANWR and we traded off CAFE and got low-flush toilets, some of which are not quite up to the job. Tomorrow I will speak a little bit more about this issue. I, again, remind Members of the fallacy of setting goals and not being present to be held accountable. We are familiar with the amendment, that it would conduct a multiyear rulemaking. It would provide new spending authorizations for advanced vehicle technology research and development and that it would require the Federal Government to purchase hybrid and alternative-fuel vehicles and use alternative fuels. When combined with the considerable tax incentives for advanced fuel technology that is in the finance package, why, what we see in the Levin-Bond amendment offers a sensible way to achieve fuel efficiency gains and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. It does so in a way that would not hurt the U.S. consumer. It would not increase vehicle costs to consumers and protect American jobs as well as American lives.”