Sheila Kuehl

LA County Supervisor and South Coast Air Quality Management District Governing Board Member Sheila Kuehl issued a statement regarding President Trump’s call for a review of vehicle fuel efficiency rules.

The statement is as follows:

“This administration’s blatant attempts to roll back fuel efficiency standards will not only make average Americans poorer by forcing them to spend more on gas but will also, like so many other moves by the President, worsen their health by exposing them to dirtier air.

“I strongly echo California’s demand that it retain its right to set its own fuel efficiency standards in order to protect our residents’ health and welfare. We intend to bring outdated motor vehicle technology into the 21st century, which will not only continue to clean our air but will also create much-needed new jobs in emerging industries.

“California’s clean tech sector has really lifted up our state’s economy — as we’ve greened our state, we’ve also seen huge growth in green jobs. California is Exhibit A for the premise that strong environmental regulations and a strong economy with high-quality green jobs go hand in hand.

“I will be asking the LA Board of Supervisors to commit to more aggressive purchases of electric vehicles for the County’s fleet in solidarity with cities around the country to counter this attempt to return us to the smoggy 1970s.

“We oppose this new wrong-headed move by the White House because fuel efficiency standards are a critical strategy in saving our planet from the multiple threats of climate change.”