OntheWilderSide

You were one of over 100,000 Americans who took the time to send comments to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration urging improvements to its flawed proposal to revise fuel economy standards for light trucks (SUVs, minivans, pick-ups). Unfortunately, the administration refused to face the facts of America's "oil addiction" or listen to your concerns, and announced a miniscule change in fuel economy standards that will save less than two weeks of gasoline each year over the next two decades. Please contact your members of Congress today and urge them to fill the void left by the administration and act to reduce our oil consumption and protect our national, environmental, and economic security.

Send a letter to the following decision maker(s):

Your Representative Your Senators

Below is the sample letter:

Subject: Fill Void Left by Bush "Do Nothing" Fuel Economy Standards

Dear Senator/Representative,

I am writing to express my deep disappointment with the final rule on light truck fuel economy recently released by the Bush Administration.

I was one of over 100,000 Americans who learned about the proposed rule, and spent the time to comment on the proposal–asking that changes be made that would truly help address America's "oil addiction."

Despite the resounding voices of the American people, and in the face of the Energy Information Administration's higher projections for future oil prices, the new NHTSA rule is an almost exact carbon copy of the initial, flawed proposal. Automakers have technology on their shelves right now that could cost-effectively improve the efficiency of light trucks to 26 or 27 mpg–at least double the increase that this rule will require.

Congress must now fill the void that the administration has left. Congress should act to reduce our oil consumption and protect our national, environmental, and economic security. The auto industry has the technology to provide consumers with more fuel-efficient vehicle choices across all vehicle types–it is time for decisive action. I look forward to your reply on this pressing matter.

Sincerely,

What's At Stake:
UCS activists and our allies have sent over 100,000 comments to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) urging improvements in its flawed proposal to revise fuel economy standards for light trucks (SUVs, minivans, pick-ups).

Through the UCS "Extreme Auto Makeover" campaign, and campaign efforts by our allies, thousands of Americans asked the administration to  genuinely address America’s addiction to oil. Unfortunately, even with the steep increase in oil price projections from the Energy Information Administration, NHTSA announced on March 29, 2006 a miniscule change in fuel economy standards that will save less than two weeks of gasoline each year over the next two decades.

Here are some highlights from the UCS reaction:

"After the Bush administration acknowledged our oil addiction, one might have expected a slam dunk, but this is an air ball," said David Friedman, research director for the Clean Vehicles Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists. "The administration squandered an important opportunity to treat our oil addiction."

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