Mike Levin: “In March, the Levin-Bond amendment regarding increased fuel standards for cars and trucks was adopted by the Senate with…”

“In March, the Levin-Bond amendment regarding increased fuel standards for cars and trucks was adopted by the Senate with a strong bipartisan vote of 62 to 38. The purpose of the Levin-Bond amendment was explicit. No. 1, we said we want to increase fuel economy. It was specified that way. As a matter of fact, we directed the Department of Transportation, in its rulemaking, to increase fuel economy. It is very explicit. The other provisions of the bill that we adopted were aimed at protecting the environment, reducing our dependence on foreign oil, but to do this in a way which would not harm the domestic manufacturing industry. We believe, those 62 of us who voted for it, you could accomplish all of these goals: You could reduce our dependence on foreign oil, you could reduce the amount of oil we use, you could increase fuel economy, you could protect the environment, and you could do that without undermining our economy.”