NEW JERSEY CONGRESSMAN FRANK PALLONE, STATE LAWMAKERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS REJECT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S ROLLBACK OF CLEAN CAR STANDARDS
NEW JERSEY CONGRESSMAN FRANK PALLONE, STATE LAWMAKERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS REJECT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S ROLLBACK OF CLEAN CAR STANDARDS
Leaders Urged Administration to Respect State Authority to Protect Residents from Dangerous Tailpipe Pollution
(Monmouth County, NJ) – Today, U.S. Congressman from New Jersey Frank Pallone (6th District) joined state lawmakers and community leaders to denounce the Trump Administration’s planned rollback of the clean car standards. Speakers condemned Acting Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler and Acting National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Administrator Heidi King’s plan to reverse the clean car standards and restrict states’ authority to protect their citizens from harmful tailpipe pollution – an unprecedented violation of public health, air quality, and common sense. Even EPA’s Scientific Advisory Board, which includes members handpicked by disgraced former Administrator Scott Pruitt, have questioned the scientific justifications for the rollbacks.
For a video of the press conference, click here.
New Jersey is one of more than a dozen states that have exercised their right to adopt vehicle pollution standards, which are more protective than federal standards. However, the proposed rollback of the existing standards, which the EPA has sent to the Office of Management and Budget, but which have not yet been released for public review or comment, will gut federal protections and may even attack states’ longstanding authority to protect their citizens from dirty air.
Speakers highlighted the pocketbook savings of the existing clean car standards. If these standards are left unchanged from the strong version put in place in 2012 with the support of automakers, environmental groups, and labor groups, the average New Jersey family will save $1,400 at the gas pump over the life of their vehicle. In addition, New Jersey could expect 16,000 new jobs by 2030 as a result of the standards.
“With the Trump Administration gutting the EPA and failing to act on climate change, it has often been up to states like New Jersey to champion for clean air and clean water. Rolling back these successful clean car standards will jeopardize the health and wellbeing for 500,000 adults and children already suffering from asthma in Monmouth County. I will continue to work on the Energy and Commerce Committee and in New Jersey to protect our clean air safeguards and create incentives for manufacturers to develop cleaner cars,” stated U.S. Congressman Frank Pallone.
“We will not allow this reckless rollback to undermine the health and safety of Garden Staters,” said State Senator Vin Gopal. “Tearing down these successful standards will cause New Jersians to drive dirtier cars that pollute our air and harm our health. New Jersey is proud to be one of over a dozen states that have exercised their right under the Clean Air Act to set stricter tailpipe pollution standards. However, this administration’s attack on states’ authority to protect their citizens from harmful pollution is an unprecedent violation of public health, air quality, and common sense. With our economy reliant on tourism and the health of our environment, we cannot afford to put the health and livelihood of Garden Staters at risk, which is exactly what President Trump and Acting Administrator Wheeler’s plan to undermine these protections would do.”
“We cannot stand idly by while the current administration rolls back clean car standards. Restricting tailpipe pollution is a logical step in any modern society. The vehicles we rely on each day have an extremely detrimental impact on the environment and human health. Restricting that pollution is simply the sensible and responsible thing to do,” said Assemblywoman Joann Downey. “The issue of clean air should not even be up for debate. It’s not a partisan issue. It is a basic requirement for human existence.”
“The Administration’s proposed rollback of the clean car standards would be an attack on New Jersey’s air quality and our state’s ability to safeguard our citizens from toxic tailpipe pollution. We are a united front – from the Murphy Administration, to Representative Pallone, to our Shore legislators – and will fight against this reckless rollback” said Doug O’Malley, director of Environment New Jersey.
“Now is not the time for the Trump Administration to undo these standards that keep our children and our families healthy in New Jersey. Too many families struggle with respiratory ailments and chronic conditions due to air pollution. We must stay on the right track to reduce air pollution, create opportunities to invest in clean car technology and prevent future generations of children from the health risks associated with a polluted environment,”stated Bridget Devane, Public Policy Director of Health Professionals and Allied Employees.
Speakers also discussed the impact that the rollbacks will have on low-income families and communities of color. Low-income communities and communities of color are more likely to live in areas near highways and traffic zones, which have higher levels of air pollution. America’s clean car standards protect these communities from harmful tailpipe pollution, and need to remain in place to safeguard the areas that are hit worst and first by climate change.
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