Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Issa Statement on Obama Administration CAFE Standards Delay

WASHINGTON, D.C. —House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) today released the following statement on news reports that the Obama Administration had delayed the release of new Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards from an original September 30 deadline to November:

“Improved fuel efficiency is a worthy goal. Unfortunately, the path pursued by the Obama Administration has the potential to increase vehicle costs for consumers, reduce passenger safety and ultimately impact American jobs. We cannot afford job-killing regulations forced through the process without regard to these consequences at a time of economic vulnerability. Further, there are real questions about the transparency of new standards negotiated in secrecy without adequate public input or concern for jobs and consumer choices.

“With the news that they have delayed the release of these standards until November, it would seem the Administration is having difficulty fitting a pre-determined conclusion driven by outside special interests and the California Air Resources Board into the statutory structure created by Congress.”

Chairman Issa wrote to the White House last month as part of an investigation into the Obama Administration’s negotiations over new CAFE standards. A copy of that letter is here.

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