Brown Urges Congress to Authorize California's Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards in Auto Bailout Legislation

Friday, December 5, 2008
Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 5, 2008
Contact: Christine Gasparac (916) 324-5500

Brown Urges Congress to Authorize California’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards in Auto Bailout Legislation

SACRAMENTO – Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today sent Congressional leaders a letter urging them to include language in any automaker bailout legislation that would authorize California and other states to implement and enforce California’s greenhouse gas emissions standards.

California’s greenhouse gas standards require a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles by 2016. More than a dozen states have adopted similar standards, which the auto industry has fought to prevent from taking effect.

Attorney General Brown’s letter to Congress:

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi The Honorable Harry Reid
Office of the Speaker Office of the Majority Leader
U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20515 Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Barney Frank The Honorable Christopher J. Dodd
Chairman, House Committee on Chairman, Senate Committee on
Financial Services Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20515 Washington, DC 20515

RE: Automobile Industry Bailout

Dear Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Reid, Representative Frank, and Senator Dodd:

As you consider a bailout of the automobile manufacturers and the adequacy of their plans for revitalizing this important industry, I encourage you to include language in any legislative package authorizing California and other states to implement and enforce California’s greenhouse gas emissions standards.

For over 40 years, California has had the authority to set stricter standards than the federal government for automobile emissions under the Clean Air Act. For thirty years, other states have been permitted to adopt those tougher standards. The program has worked exceedingly well.

In 2005, California applied this authority to greenhouse gas emissions. More than a dozen states have adopted identical regulations. Nevertheless, the automobile industry has attacked them at every turn, and has indicated it will continue to do so.

That’s why I’m urging you to condition any taxpayer assistance to the automobile industry on an explicit authorization for California and other states to implement California’s landmark greenhouse gas emission standards.

Edmund G. Brown Jr.
Attorney General of California

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