WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) today released the following statement after President Trump announced the start of a rollback of the Environmental Protection Agency’s fuel economy standards:

“In beginning to roll back the EPA’s fuel economy standards, President Trump is asking the average American to purchase a huge gift for Big Oil companies. High fuel economy standards simply mean that Americans’ cars get more miles per gallon, saving money for families and keeping our air clean. Rolling back these standards will force Americans to spend more time at the gas station, doling out their hard-earned money to oil giants who are already overcharging them.

These kinds of policies are exactly what I warned could happen if Scott Pruitt became EPA Administrator given his close ties to the fossil fuel industry. It seems Big Oil is already reaping the benefits of President Trump’s disastrous appointments. The American people did not vote last November to subsidize this administration’s corporate buddies, and I hope they demand these standards be upheld.”

Senator Menendez also tweeted about the news.

###