Statement
of Senator Jon S. Corzine
At the Environment and Public Works Committee Hearing:
“Transportation and Air Quality”
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding these continuing hearings on the reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century – TEA-21, and I’d like to join you in welcoming our witnesses.
The issue of air quality is very important to me. Most of the state I represent – New Jersey – is designated as a “non-attainment area” for the Clean Air Act criteria pollutants. This degree of air pollution affects the health and well-being of our residents, especially the young, the elderly and the infirm. While much of our air pollution comes from out-of-state sources, there is no doubt that the cars on our roads contribute as well.
To its credit, New Jersey has taken steps to help itself. We’ve instituted such congestion reducing measures as EZ-Pass. We’ve invested heavily in new rail systems to help get more drivers off the roads. And we’ve revamped our motor vehicle inspection system to help ensure that cars meet tougher federal air quality standards.
But New Jersey and states like it need more help, Mr. Chairman. We need assistance from the federal government in programs like the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program. I look forward to an ongoing dialogue in the committee as to how to make this good program even better as we re-authorize TEA-21. And we need to look into other measures that will help states help themselves.
But we also need to do more to reduce vehicle emissions by requiring automakers to raise gasoline efficiency standards. I was disappointed when Congress failed to include an increase in CAFÉ standards as it considered the Energy bill. I hope we get the chance to do so again.
Thank you again Mr. Chairman for holding this hearing and I look forward to hearing from our witnesses.