Stabenow Criticizes Trump Fuel Rollbacks, Lauds Senate for Great Lakes Funding

U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow has ripped President Trump’s plan to roll back fuel economy and emissions standards. Stabenow says the proposal is not supported by automakers, suppliers, workers, or consumers; and that the current standards system has helped push technology forward. The Trump administration is proposing that cars produced between 2021 and 2025 achieve a real-world average of 29 miles per gallon. Efficiency standards enacted by the Obama administration call for a real-world average of 43 miles per gallon by 2025.

Stabenow praised the United States Senate for restoring funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative in the budget that’s under consideration. President Trump’s 2019 budget request wiped out most funding for Great Lakes protection. Funding was also maintained to contain the threat of invasive Asian carp in the Great Lakes. Stabenow is co-chair of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force. The senate also passed legislation directing the Environmental Protection Agency to update the Lead and Copper Rule for drinking water, based on analyses of the Flint crisis.