Washington, DC - Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15) issued the following statement today on the hearing held by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on whether California and thirteen other states should be allowed to regulate vehicle tailpipe greenhouse gas emissions.

“When President Obama announced that he was reopening the issue of the California Clean Air Act waiver, I said then that this was a fulfillment of his campaign promise and that I looked forward to working with him and his Administration as this process moves forward.  Today’s hearing is a reflection of the President’s commitment to hear from all sides on this issue.

“I believe that in the end of this process, with proper leadership from the Administration, we will come to a solution that most will not like, but everyone can live with.  A single, aggressive, non-discriminatory and attainable national fuel economy standard is the best option for our country’s automakers, the millions of people employed by the industry, and the consumers they serve.  A national standard based on science and technological feasibility to regulate vehicle fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions, frankly, is the only way to better our environment without costing this nation millions of jobs.  A patchwork of state standards would destitute an already fragile industry and I know that the President and his Administration understand the broader economic implications of this issue

“I look forward to continuing this dialogue with President Obama, his Administration, and with the American people.”