| Barry W. McCahill, president of SUV Owners of | | | | Consequently, to lower the gas price, the US needs to |
| America (SUVOA), reacted negatively on the | | | | lessen foreign oil dependency. |
| Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) in the | | | | MaCahill further stated family needs, business uses, |
| Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and | | | | leisure, and lifestyle are also factors taken into |
| Transportation. | | | | consideration in deciding a vehicle to buy. These, |
| In his statement, he said the Senate Committee is in a | | | | according to him are factors apparently being taken |
| hurry to do something to minimize the country's foreign | | | | for granted by the Congress when talking about the |
| oil dependence and lessen greenhouse effect in the | | | | auto mobile industry. |
| atmosphere, but is actually doing something to hurt | | | | McCahill thinks CAFE will certainly increase prices of |
| more consumers. | | | | new vehicles, thereby limiting consumer choices. He |
| This week, the Senate Committee on Commerce, | | | | reacted that the proposal to apply CAFE standards to |
| Science and Transportation approved the CAFE, | | | | medium- and heavy-duty trucks with 4 percent annual |
| which according to McCahill, would dramatically | | | | increases is beyond the human reason and will, with |
| increase fuel economy standards for several types of | | | | great certainty, result in large increases in the prices of |
| vehicles including SUVs. For the first time, the legislation | | | | commodities delivered by truck to different |
| would affect the fuel economy mandates to heavy | | | | communities all over the country. |
| tractor-trailers and buses. | | | | He suggested that US should not anymore use oil, |
| With the goal of minimizing oil dependency on foreign | | | | rather bio-fuels to lessen foreign oil dependency. He |
| countries, fuel economy requirements, which were | | | | further suggested that new technologies like highly |
| initiated more than 30 years ago, are put back in place. | | | | fuel-efficient clean diesels be given incentives. |
| McCahill recalls in 1975 America got 35 percent of its | | | | According to him, only then will America be in progress |
| oil from other countries. And today, the country's oil | | | | towards cutting oil use. A clean environment is a bonus. |
| import value increased by almost 50 percent. With this, | | | | German auto makers like Daimler Chrysler, since they |
| he pointed that it is an energy policy which did not | | | | have US markets, are expected to react on the said |
| succeed. He asserted the failed legislation will be | | | | legislation. Daimler Chrysler is maker of durable |
| implemented once again. He firmly said that the CAFE | | | | Mercedes Benz fuel pump. |
| is a tired horse with a not so good performance. | | | | A non-profit educational organization, SUVOA, is aimed |
| Definitely, because of the high prices of gas, | | | | at supporting the rights and serving the interests of 85 |
| Americans, especially SUV and light truck owners, | | | | million SUV and light truck owners. |
| would want to get the excellent fuel economy. | | | | |