John W. Olver: “we should raise CAFE standards because that would reduce this Nation's dependence on foreign oil and reduce America's…”

“we should raise CAFE standards because that would reduce this Nation's dependence on foreign oil and reduce America's contribution to global warming. Cars and light trucks consume 40 percent of the oil we use and emit 20 percent of the carbon dioxide we produce. And CO2 is the major cause of global warming. It is embarrassing that we have not significantly raised CAFE standards in a decade, when the technology is so readily available. Overall fuel efficiency has declined as SUVs have grown to nearly 50 percent of the market, and the situation is certain to get worse as supersized, unregulated SUVs penetrate the market. The amendment before us requires a 5 percent reduction in oil usage by cars and light trucks by 2010. It would save half a million barrels of oil every day and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by over 90 million tons every day. I urge a 'yes' vote on the Boehlert-Markey amendment.”