Energy

House Hearing on Fuel Economy Standards: Consumers Will Save With Every Fill-up—Automakers on Track to Comply

Washington, D.C. – Today, Mark Cooper, Director of Research at the Consumer Federation of America (CFA), will testify at a hearing on Capitol Hill on the success of the national Corporate Average Fuel Economy program and greenhouse gas emissions standards for light-duty vehicles.

At today’s hearing, Cooper will make the following points: 

Consumers are winning, saving money with every fill-up, no matter the price of gasoline. Automakers are innovating, even over-complying with the standard in many cases. All the negativity around these standards is hogwash.

Auto front groups are overestimating costs. Their excuses are rehashed from their fights against the catalytic converter, seatbelts and airbags.

Bottom-line, the standards are is good for America, consumers and the industry and it should be left alone.

As important as it is to get all the facts, it’s a waste of taxpayer dollars to hold a hearing on national MPG standards.

Cooper’s complete testimony can be found here.

About Dr. Mark Cooper: Mark Cooper is responsible for analysis and advocacy in the areas of telecommunications, media, digital rights, and economic and energy policy at the Consumer Federation of America. He has provided expert testimony in more than 250 cases for public-interest clients, including attorneys general, People’s Counsels, and citizen interveners, before state and federal agencies, courts, and legislators in almost four dozen jurisdictions in the U.S. and Canada. Cooper holds a Ph.D. from Yale University and is a former Yale University and Fulbright Fellow.

About the Hearing:

The hearing is held by the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce, the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade, and Subcommittee on Energy and Power. Witnesses called include:

  • Mitch Bainwol, President and CEO, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers
  • John Bozzella, President and CEO, Global Automakers
  • Mark Cooper, Director of Research, Consumer Federation of America
  • John German, Senior Fellow/U.S. Co-Lead, The International Council on Clean Transportation
  • John D. Graham, Dean, School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University Bloomington
  • Paul Hemmersbaugh, Chief Counsel, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
  • Janet McCabe, Acting Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation, Environmental Protection Agency
  • Peter Welch, President, National Automobile Dealers Association

Contact: Mark Cooper 301-384-2204


The Consumer Federation of America is a nonprofit association of more than 250 consumer groups that was founded in 1968 to advance the consumer interest through research, advocacy, and education.