Rep. Eshoo Statement on Obama Administration Reconsideration of California Emissions Waiver

Monday, January 26, 2009

Washington, D.C. - Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D- Palo Alto), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following statement in response to President Barack Obama's announcement that he will instruct the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to review the Bush Administration's rejection of a waiver for California's efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions by mandating more fuel efficient cars.

"California has always led the nation in promoting a cleaner environment and addressing climate change, but over the last eight years our efforts have been thwarted by an Administration beholden to the oil and gas industry. I'm highly pleased that President Obama has taken immediate action to remedy the Bush Administration's denial of the Clean Air Act waiver for California's greenhouse gas emissions law. Once the EPA reconsiders this waiver, California, the 13 other states that have also adopted strong emissions standards, plus the several states that indicated they would follow California's lead if they received the waiver, will finally be able to take real action on climate change."

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