Statement from AG Jepsen on
Trump Roll-back of Vehicle Emission Standards
Friday, March 17, 2017
HARTFORD – Attorney General George Jepsen today issued the following statement on the announcement by the Trump Administration that it intends to roll back federal vehicle emission standards, and on Connecticut's intention to protect the standards by intervening in a recent court challenge filed by the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers against the standards.
"As a downwind state, and a state that has taken considerable steps toward improving its air quality, these actions are disappointing and deeply concerning. Emission standards serve an important purpose in not only combating climate change but also in protecting the safety, health and well-being of our residents. Further, this announcement by the Trump Administration on the same day that the Alliance of Automobile Manufactures filed suit against the standards is an attempt to wrest well-established authority from those states that have adopted stricter pollution standards – a position entirely inconsistent with the President's self-professed respect for state's rights.
"Connecticut will not stand idly by as this administration attempts to undo the significant progress made toward safeguarding our clean air. We will oppose efforts by the Trump Administration to take any action that will harm our citizens and our economy."
"We will also be filing a motion to intervene in support of the current vehicle emission standards in the challenge to the standards filed by the Alliance of Automobile Manufactures in U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Whether the efforts to weaken our air quality comes from the President or from the car manufactures, we will defend our state from the onslaught."
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