Advocacy Opportunities: Clean Car Legislation

On December 19, 2007, the US Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency denied California’s petition to limit greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks. California had sought to establish stronger emissions standards for cars and trucks sold in the state. The Clean Air Act explicitly allows California to adopt its own standards. And the federal government has granted similar requests fifty times since 1968. The last time it denied a request was in 1975. California has since sued EPA and seventeen states (representing more than one-half of the U.S. population) have joined as plaintiffs. Meanwhile, Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Congressmen Peter Welch (D-VT) have introduced legislation in both chambers of Congress to overturn EPA's decision. This legislation has passed out of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and been placed on the Senate legislative calendar.

Click here to find out if your Senator is a cosponsor of S 2555, the Senate Bill.
Click here to find out if your Congressman is a cosponsor of HR 5560, the House Bill.
ACTION: Thank your Members of Congress if they are a cosponsor of either bill. Otherwise, urge them to join Senator Boxer and Congressman Welch's efforts to protect our nation's air quality. You can reach your Member of Congress through the switchboard at (202) 224-3121. A switchboard operator will connect you directly with the appropriate offices.

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