Ed Markey: “Let me just say this again, don't quote me. I'm going to give you Dan Akerson, the CEO of General Motors. This is what…”

“Let me just say this again, don't quote me. I'm going to give you Dan Akerson, the CEO of General Motors. This is what he said about the standards that this amendment would repeal here tonight: Not only would it end our ability to back out 2 million barrels of oil a day that we would import from the Persian Gulf, but the CEO of General Motors says that these standards were a ``win for American manufacturers.'' {time} 1900 Hear what I'm saying? The CEO of General Motors said these regulations are a win for the manufacturers of automobiles in the United States. It's not my quote. That's the CEO of General Motors. What's good for General Motors is good for America. I don't know if you've ever heard that. But let me tell you, he's not alone. It's also Ford, Chrysler, BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar, Land Rover, Kia, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Toyota, Volvo, as well as the United Auto Workers, the State of California consumer groups, and environmental organizations. Everyone agrees on this. So where is the opposition coming from? Who doesn't like this? Why are we having a debate here? There's no point in trying to repeal something that enhances dramatically our national security, saves consumers--because it will be 54.5 miles a gallon by the time it ends. That means since the car goes twice as far on a gallon, instead of $4 a gallon, it's only $2 a gallon. That's a big savings for everyone every time they fill up their tank.…”