On the recordJune 28, 2013
Mr. Speaker, at a time when millions of Americans are out of work and the cost of living continues to rise, the President could not be more out of touch with reality. For example, President Obama has continued pushing for car manufacturers to produce vehicles that get 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025 through the EPA's Corporate Average Fuel Economy program. What he doesn't understand is that CAFE standards are expensive for manufacturers, increase the cost for consumers, and have caused a significant decrease in vehicle safety by forcing manufacturers to downsize and to use lighter materials in production. Fuel efficiency has been and always will be important to consumers. Consumer demand is incentive enough for producers to make fuel- efficient vehicles. Some families might trade off miles per gallon for greater safety or more leg room. The bottom line is that the people should make these decisions, not the Federal Government. The President needs to understand that Americans can make informed purchases without restricting our freedom to choose. That's why I've introduced H.R. 2445, a bill to repeal the CAFE standards. I hope my colleagues will join me in standing up for the free market by repealing these destructive government regulations. In God we trust. ____________________





