Ananich Urges Support for New Fuel Standards to Help Create Jobs

State Representative Jim Ananich (D-Flint) submitted a letter today to the United States Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Transportation urging support for the proposed new fuel economy standards. Last July, the Obama Administration proposed doubling the overall fuel economy standards to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. The agencies are accepting comment from the public on the proposal until February 13. The UAW, environmental advocates, and elected officials testified during a hearing in Detroit last month that the plan will help create jobs, save consumers money, and reduce our involvement in overseas conflicts.

"These aggressive new goals will help get people back to work and help them save some of their hard-earned cash," said Ananich. "It sets us up for a winning second half if we think big and work together."

The full text of the Ananich letter is below:

Docket No:
EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-0799
NHTSA-2010-0131

February 6, 2012

Administrator Jackson and Secretary LaHood,

I’m State Representative Jim Ananich of Flint and I have the distinct honor of serving Michigan’s 49^th House District. I’m pleased to comment today on and in support of the proposed 54.5 mpg fuel economy standards proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Since I took office last year, my top priority has been to improve our economy and help get the people of Genesee County and Michigan back to work. The proposed 54.5 mpg fuel economy standards will be a significant step forward in accomplishing these goals. These standards will help create jobs, save consumers money, and keep the members of our armed services out of harm’s way.

The standards will help create and retain the good paying automotive jobs essential to the prosperity of states like Michigan and communities like Genesee County. A recent report by the United Auto Workers (UAW), National Wildlife Federation (NWF), and Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) found that Michigan employs the most at over 38,000 workers at 97 facilities in the manufacture of fuel-efficient parts of the automotive supply chain. That’s not news to Flint: local auto suppliers employ hundreds of workers and substantially contribute to our region’s economy.

The standards will also save consumers at the pump and help insulate them, especially those on fixed incomes like retirees and seniors, from the volatility of gas prices. As we have a debate here in Michigan about how to adequately invest in our roads and bridges, I will be working to make sure any solution considers how it impacts middle-class families that are already struggling. Increased fuel economy will help them by putting more discretionary income in their pockets so that they can spend more money on other goods and services. Over the lifecycle of a model year 2025 vehicle, consumers will in fact save up to $6,600 in fuel costs, which they can then use to help support local businesses and jobs.

Greater fuel economy will also help reduce our dangerous addiction to foreign oil and keep the members of our armed services out of danger. The United States imported more than 4.3 billion barrels of oil in 2010. This dependency places increasing demands on American security forces to keep the peace in many of the most dangerous areas of the world.

The Obama Administration and automakers deserve recognition for their collaborative efforts to reach an agreement on fuel economy at a time when leaders in Washington cannot seem to agree on anything. This shows that we can rise above the divisive rhetoric of our politics and reach agreement on commonsense solutions to our most pressing issues. Thank you.

Sincerely,

State Representative Jim Ananich
49^th District, Michigan House of Representatives