I'm happy to let you know that the House has decided to strip Arctic National Wildlife Refuge drilling provisions from the budget bill. This is a tremendous victory, and wouldn't have happened without your help. Having stopped the drilling for now it's important we keep up the pressure and fight for better fuel efficiency.

The Bush administration has the authority to make cars go farther on a gallon of gas right now, which would which would reduce oil consumption, save billions at the pump, and reduce global warming.

Please take a moment to tell the Bush administration to take real action by requiring cars and trucks to use already available technology to get 40 miles per gallon. Then ask your family and friends to help by forwarding this email to them.

To take action, click on the link below or paste it into your web browser:

uspirg.org/uspirg.asp


Background

The good news is that car manufacturers already know how to make cars and light trucks that average 40 miles per gallon fleet wide. With current gas mileage standards at 20.8 miles per gallon, this change alone would cut our need to fill up in half. When fully phased in, this would reduce oil consumption by 20%, save us billions at the pump, and reduce global warming pollution.

The bad news is that the Bush administration refuses to require automakers to use existing technology to significantly increase gas mileage standards for new cars and trucks.

In August of this year, the Bush administration announced a proposed rulemaking for changing Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE standards) for light trucks. However, the proposal inadequately increases gas mileage standards - less than 6% over four years. In fact, it allows manufacturers to avoid meeting even these weak standards by making their light trucks longer, wider and heavier. As a result, manufactures could be making vehicles that get fewer miles per gallon than they do now.

There is no better time again to protect consumers, reduce our dependence on oil, and reduce global warming pollution. At a time of skyrocketing gasoline prices, the Bush administration should require automakers to significantly increase the gas mileage of their vehicles. We don't need new loopholes that encourage more gas-guzzlers.

Please take a moment to tell the Bush administration to require cars and trucks to use already available technology to get 40 miles per gallon instead of encouraging more gas guzzlers. Then ask your family and friends to help by forwarding this email to them.

To take action, click on the link below or paste it into your web browser: uspirg.org/uspirg.asp

Sincerely,

Rebecca D. Stanfield
Illinois PIRG Environmental Attorney
RebeccaS (at) illinoispirg.org
www.IllinoisPIRG.org

P.S. Thanks again for your support. Please feel free to share this e-mail with your family and friends.