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U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) released the following statement on the Environmental Protection Agency’s expected announcement on fuel economy standards.

“The expected announcement by the EPA that current fuel economy standards for model year 2022-2025 are not attainable is the beginning of a process. While the decision itself is not surprising from this Administration, what happens next is very important. It is critical that all stakeholders, including California, automakers, environmentalists and the Administration, remain at the table to reach consensus on standards that meet the dual goals of environmental protection and affordability.

“While much has changed since these standards were implemented in 2012, nobody can deny that strong fuel economy standards have helped keep our environment clean, reduced our dependence on foreign oil, and saved consumers money at the pump. We need to maintain the strong, upward trajectory of fuel economy standards to ensure that we are protecting the environment and giving industry the certainty they need so we don’t undermine the economic health of these companies. I also believe that we should be setting strong standards through 2030. One challenge is to determine how newer technologies are included in these calculations.

“The Administration must respect and understand the importance of California in this discussion, and California must remain at the table so that we are all working together to ensure strong, workable standards that protect jobs and the environment and keep pace with innovation and technology so the United States remains competitive. Everybody wins if we work together. Everybody loses if we don’t.”