Frank Lautenberg: “I rise to deliver a short statement, because I know there are other matters pending that we would like to hear fairly…”

“I rise to deliver a short statement, because I know there are other matters pending that we would like to hear fairly promptly. While on the subject of the CAFE standards, I will register my support for the position outlined by the senior Senator from California and the Senator from Washington. For the last 4 years, the Senate has accepted the House's CAFE freeze rider. The result has been serious consequences for the environment, for employment and for the health of people across the country. There is a myth floating around that CAFE standards hurt consumers. The truth is, good CAFE standards help consumers. It's a simple concept. If your car or SUV uses less gas, you save money. Between 1975 and 1980, when the fuel economy of cars doubled, consumers with fuel-efficient cars saved $3,000 over the lifetime of the car. And that translated into $30 billion of savings in annual consumer spending. Another benefit of CAFE standards is reduced pollution. Air pollution from cars has been a major environmental problem. In fact, gas-guzzling cars and light trucks are responsible for 25 percent of this country's output of emissions that cause global climate change.”