Contact: Ernie Blazar 202.224.7627 Shana Stribling 202.224.0309
Tuesday, February 19, 2002

ST. LOUIS - Senator Kit Bond today warned local General Motors auto workers that they may lose their jobs if Congress adopts a new fuel standard for cars

“If this proposed legislation becomes law, it will basically eliminate the minivan, Sport Utility Vehicle and light trucks in this country -- and that means it will eliminate your jobs,” said Bond, a Senate leader on this issue who believes we can protect the environment and jobs at the same time.

Bond made his remarks at the General Motors plant in Wentzville, Missouri. That 3.2 million square foot facility makes full-size passenger vans and employs 189 salaried and 2,382 hourly workers. This plant opened in 1981 and produced 121,818 Chevrolet Express vans and 51,403 GMC Savana vans in 1999.

The proposed new law would change the fuel efficiency standard for American automobiles. It is known as “CAFÉ” - for Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency standard. The Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) directs the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to set fuel economy standards at the “maximum feasible” level. This process is intended to consider key elements such as technological feasibility, cost, safety, emissions controls, consumer choice and effects on American jobs. Unfortunately, some Senators want legislation that fails to balance these important issues.

In response, Bond is working with other Senators like Carl Levin (D-Michigan) , to write more sensible legislation. American auto companies also want to increase fuel efficiency by building and selling advanced technology vehicles. Though there are more than 50 car models with fuel economy ratings above 30 miles per gallon, few consumers buy these models. Advanced technology vehicles, including hybrid-electric, fuel cell and diesel lean burn vehicles, offer the promise of significant increases in fuel efficiency without sacrificing consumer demands for safety, performance, comfort and utility.

Bond also believes Congress should provide consumer tax credits that encourage the purchase of new types of highly fuel-efficient advanced technology vehicles. Bond also supports the use of clean-burning renewable fuel sources like corn-based ethanol and soy-based bio-diesel fuel.

Customers may be reluctant to pay the initially higher costs of new technology, so consumer tax incentives would help accelerate the introduction of advanced technology vehicles into the marketplace.