Ed Markey: “Mr. Chairman, the fuel economy standards in the United States are going down. In 1986, we peaked at about 26 rac{1}{2}…”

“Mr. Chairman, the fuel economy standards in the United States are going down. In 1986, we peaked at about 26 rac{1}{2} miles per gallon, and we have been going backwards ever since. Now, if we have an energy crisis, should we not look at where we put two-thirds of all of the oil that we consume in the United States? It goes into gasoline tanks. If we want to do anything about an energy crisis, we have to look at gasoline tanks. Now, our amendment just takes America back pretty much to where it was in 1986. This is not rocket science. This is auto mechanics. Every high school in America has a course on this. Do not tell us this is going to cause some huge, unbearable burden to be imposed upon the auto industry. The burdens are upon the American people. We are importing too much oil. The environmental consequences? Well, the President says he cannot comply with the Kyoto Treaty. Well, if we do not do anything about automobiles, we are not going to do anything about Kyoto. The American Lung Association says that there is a dramatic increase in lung disease, in asthma, especially among young children in this country. If we do not do anything about automobile emissions into our atmosphere, we are not doing anything about the American Lung Association's top agenda item. So I say to my colleagues, we have a choice.…”