Dear
Friend,
The 2007 legislative session is off to a great start with a number
of important pieces of legislation well on their way through the legislative
process. One of my main priorities this year is the Clean
Cars Act of 2007, which I introduced at the beginning of the General
Assembly session.
The Clean Cars Act will reduce smog, protect Marylanders’ health,
combat global warming and reduce nitrogen pollution in the Bay. It
does all that by adding Maryland to the list of states that have adopted
a tough set of auto emission rules written by California that the
national Clean Air Act permits states to implement instead of federal
standards. Eleven states already have acted, including Pennsylvania,
New York and New Jersey.
If Maryland signs on, the emission controls will begin with the 2011
car models. The Maryland Department of the Environment says that,
by 2025, the new standards will cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30
percent a year and will achieve substantial reductions in air toxins,
as well as the gases that contribute to smog. To appreciate the importance
of those reductions, keep in mind that mobile sources account for
a third of Maryland’s CO2 emissions, half of toxic air emissions,
and 45 percent of NOx emissions (NOx is a precursor of smog and a
major contributor to the nutrient load in the Chesapeake Bay).
The Senate Judicial Proceedings committee, which I chair, recently
heard testimony on this important piece of legislation. Three cabinet
secretaries testified in support of the bill, as did Governor O'Malley's
chief legislative advisor. We heard testimony from groups on both
sides of the debate, but I feel the evidence is overwhelming. We need
to pass this piece of legislation for the health of our families and
our environment.
Sincerely,
Brian
E. Frosh
Read about the
hearing in The
Washington Post.
Listen
to Senator Frosh discuss the clear cars legislation and other issues
during the Maryland Politics Hour on the Kojo Nnamdi show on WAMU.
Senator Frosh's interview begins during the 40th minute of the broadcast.>Listen
to the interview
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