835 SW Topeka Blvd. Topeka, KS 66612 785.357.6321 

# iiii KANSAS CHA '!)AILY READING FILE

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. The Kansas Chamber is focused on proactive policies to address these critical issues and grow Kansas 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 2017-2025, we want to share our views.

Safe, efficient and reliable transportation impacts each individual, family and business in our state. Nearly every job in Kansas is tied to cost effective transportation. With the recent increase in fuel prices and turmoil in the Middle East, reducing fuel use and dependence on foreign oil has become a priority for many. We encourage you to carefully consider a balanced and thoughtful approach in your efforts to improve fuel economy.

We encourage NHTSA and EPA to adopt a single, national fuel economy standard that considers your desire for increased fuel economy while preserving the choices for families and businesses to meet their transportation needs without sacrificing affordability, safety, or jobs. NHTSA and EPA have already set standards for 2012-2016 that raise the fleet average by 40% to 35 miles per gallon. Looking forward, technology improvements should continue to support increases in fuel economy and greenhouse gas standards. However, we recognize that overreaching regulations can place a significant cost burden on individuals, families and businesses in Kansas.

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.Our state's businesses 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 of our region's consumers can be expected to hold on to their older vehicles longer and defer buying new ones, which could put jobs across the country at risk and delay compliance with federal air quality standards. Affordability, customer choice and job preservation are vitally important.

At the Kansas Chamber, we think every day about ways to promote job creation and security for our state. We 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.

Kent Beisner President and CEO Kansas Chamber of Commerce

CC: Congressman Tim Huelskamp Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins Senator Jerry Moran Congressman Mike Pompeo Senator Pat Roberts Congressman Kevin Yoder