01/26/2009 GAAS:035:09 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Print Version | En Español |
Gov. Schwarzenegger Applauds President Obama’s Commitment to Move Swiftly to Allow California to Reduce Emissions from Cars
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued the following statement today following President Obama's announcement that he has directed federal regulators to move swiftly to grant California and 13 other states the right to set strict automobile emissions and fuel efficiency standards.
"With this announcement from President Obama less than a week into his administration, it is clear that California and the environment now have a strong ally in the White House. Allowing California and other states to aggressively reduce their own harmful vehicle tailpipe emissions would be a historic win for clean air and for millions of Americans who want more fuel-efficient, environmentally-friendly cars. My administration has been fighting for this waiver since 2005 and we will not give up until it is granted because we owe it to our children and to our grandchildren to do more than just protect our natural resources, we must also work to improve them so that we leave behind an environment for future generations that is better than it is today."
Last week, the Governor sent a letter to President Obama requesting that he direct the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to act promptly and favorably in reconsidering California's request for a Clean Air Act waiver so we can reduce global warming pollution from passenger vehicles.
