6611 Ridge Road 

Parr, Oh4 129 

The Honorable Ray LaHood The Honorable Lisa Jackson 

Secretary Administrator 

Department of Transportation Environmental Protection Agency 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW 

Washington, DC 20590 Washington, DC 20004 

Dear Secretary LaHood and Administrator Jackson: 

Today jobs, the economy and energy security are on the minds of every American. As the 

Mayor of Parma, Ohio's seventh largest city, I am focused on proactive policies to address these 

critical issues and grow my city toward a more secure future. Transportation is a critical 

component of our economic vitality and given that your agencies are now developing national 

fuel economy standards for 20 17-2025, I wanted to share my views. 

Safe, efficent aidretmb1e transportation impacts each ifldiyidua!, thmily and business in my 

cfly Jobs manuaturm, the auto dustry, hç gpthte industry aid retail çe all tied to cost 

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I encourage NHTSA and EPA to adopt a single, national fuel economy standard that considers 

rinrea fiel crnpmy while preserving the choices for families and 

esseso m ..eitrnsportation needs without sacrifcjng fordability, safety,1 pjobs. 

NLITS and . EJ ve,a1c4yset strong stan Lards r20lZ-20that raisç thF let a'rge, by 

40% to 35 mils per gallon 1 J,00king forward, techno1oyimprovements should eontiçiue to 

support increases in fuel economy and greenhouse gas stndards Ho'sçever. I rçpognie that 

overreaching regulations can place a ignificant cost burden on indivicIia1, famlis nd 

businesses in my city. 

440-885-8001 • Fax: 440-885-8012 • www.cityolparma-oh.gov' mayorsoffice@cityofparmo-oh.gov
It is important that standards for 2017-2025 support a broad range of consumer needs in terms of 

utility and function. Americans need a range of vehicles to meet their family and business needs. 

Large families require automobiles with sufficient passenger space, including room for multiple 

child-safety seats in the back. Small businesses need vans and utility vehicles to conduct 

commerce. Agriculture depends on pickups, as do the construction industry and local trades. 

My residents all share the need for affordable transportation. The next phase of fuel economy 

standards should not pick winners and losers, but should support a variety of technologies and 

fuel diversity to preserve affordability. If fuel economy standards increase too quickly, resulting 

in more expensive vehicles, many consumers can be expected to hold on to their older vehicles 

longer and defer buying a new car, which could put auto jobs across the country at risk and delay 

compliance with federal air quality standards. Affordability, customer choice and job 

preservation is as much a priority as raising fuel economy. 

As a mayor, I think every day about job creation and security for my city. As a policymaker, I 

know that good regulations and laws are often a balancing act of competing demands. I 

encourage you to carefully balance the factors that impact sensible fuel economy standards, 

including consumer choice, affordability and the economic concerns that weigh on our nation's 

fragile recovery. 

cc: Congressman Dennis Kucinich
(fl 

CT) 

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