Dianne Feinstein: “I would like to clarify what I believe to be the intent of the legislation I sponsored to increase fuel economy…”

“I would like to clarify what I believe to be the intent of the legislation I sponsored to increase fuel economy standards in the United States. The legislation increasing the fuel economy standards of vehicles by 10 miles per gallon over 10 years does not impact the authority to regulate tailpipe emissions of the EPA, California, or other States, under the Clean Air Act. The intent was to give NHTSA the ability to regulate fuel efficiency standards of vehicles, and increase the fleetwide average to at least 35 miles per gallon by 2020. There was no intent in any way, shape, or form to negatively affect, or otherwise restrain, California or any other State's existing or future tailpipe emissions laws, or any future EPA authority on tailpipe emissions. The two issues are separate and distinct. As the Supreme Court correctly observed in Massachusetts v. EPA, the fact 'that DOT sets mileage standards in no way licenses EPA to shirk its environmental responsibilities.'”