CAFE Standards

June 20, 2007

TO THE MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE:

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the world's largest business federation representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region, supports an amendment by Senator Pryor to H.R. 6, the "CLEAN Energy Act of 2007," that would raise Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards to 36 miles per gallon (mpg) for passenger cars by 2022 and 30 mpg for light trucks by 2025. This bipartisan amendment commits the automobile industry to significant mileage improvements while striving to protect against lost sales and jobs.

The automobile industry has been doing its part to improve the economy of the cars it produces. Auto makers have embraced advanced technology vehicles such as hybrids, clean diesel and flexible fuel, as well as alternative fuel sources such as biodiesel and E-85. The amendment would exceed these efforts with an aggressive new CAFE target. However, unlike base provisions of H.R. 6, which mandate an unworkable 35 mpg combined standard for cars and light trucks by 2020, the standards provided in the Pryor amendment are technically and economically achievable.

The base provisions of H.R. 6 have a significant impact on vehicle utility, choice, and safety for American consumers. The Pryor amendment addresses these issues by establishing a workable standard, and will help forestall additional plant closings and job loss at a critical time for the domestic auto industry.

For these reasons, the Chamber urges you to support the CAFE amendment to H.R. 6 introduced by Senator Pryor. The Chamber may consider votes on, or in relation to, this issue in our annual How They Voted scorecard.

Sincerely,

R. Bruce Josten