LCV and Chispa Statements on House Vote to Undo Strong Car Standards

 

For Immediate Release

SEP 14th, 2023

Contact: Mika Hyer, mhyer@lcv.org, 940-783-2230

Washington D.C. — In response to today’s House floor vote on H.R. 1435, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) and Chispa released the following statements:

“Republicans are determined to roll back electric vehicle benefits for families, harm our global competitiveness, and weaken car standards that keep our communities safe in favor of polluters and special interests,” said LCV Climate & Clean Energy Government Affairs Advocate Darien Davis. “Today’s vote forced by extremist House Republicans is disappointing but not unexpected as they continue to do everything in their power to stall progress towards a clean energy future and block states’ rights to deliver cleaner air to their residents in favor of their fossil fuel cronies. Transitioning to zero-emission vehicles will mean cleaner air for our communities and our children in historically excluded communities who suffer the most from toxic air pollution.

“In addition, we stand in solidarity with UAW and underscore their demands of the Big Three to ensure the future of electric vehicles guarantees good jobs for families across the country. Stronger clean vehicles standards help boost innovation, good jobs, and local investments to keep our manufacturing at the cutting edge of transportation.”

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“With today’s vote, House Republicans have once again shown that they value the interests of Big Polluters over the health and safety of our communities,” said Chispa National Director Estefany Carrasco-Gonzalez. “The science is clear: we must transition away from traditional combustion engines to secure a safe future for the planet and breathable air for our children and comunidades, yet extreme House Republicans continue to ignore the impacts of air pollution and put our communities, especially those who have been historically excluded, at risk. Congress must take immediate action to place the needs of people over polluter interests by strengthening clean transportation policies instead of weakening them.

“While it is important to embrace cleaner transportation, we cannot do so without ensuring good jobs for the workers critical to facilitating this transition. Chispa supports the UAW in their demands and stands in solidarity with autoworkers.”

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