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SbaumaM. Gir8ts The Honorable Ray LaHood Secretary Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590

Dear Secretary LaHood and Administrator Jackson:

Today jobs, the economy and energy security are on the minds of every American. As the Mayor of Bedford, Indiana I am focused on proactive policies to address these critical issues and grow my city toward a more secure future. Transportation and the automotive industry is a critical component of Bedford's 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, efficient and reliable transportation impacts each individual, family and business in my city. Jobs in the automotive, sector, limestone industry, steel manufacturing, and those organizations that support the Armed Forces, are all tied to cost effective transportation. With the recent increase in gas prices and turmoil in the Middle East, reducing fuel use and dependence on foreign oil are on all our minds. I support your efforts to improve fuel economy by laying out a long-term program, but encourage you to carefully consider a balanced and thoughtful approach.

I encourage NHTSA and EPA to adopt a single, national fuel economy standard that considers America's needs 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 strong 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, I recognize that overreaching regulations can place a significant cost burden on individuals, families and businesses in my city.

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. Living in a rural community agriculture is an important part of the local economy that depends on pickup, as do the construction industry and local trades. The limestone industry is an important source of revenue for my city as well, and it depends on vehicles to carry out day-to-day business needs.

1102 16th Street • Bedford, Indiana 47421 (812) 279-6555 (812) 275-1608 (fax) email: sgirgis@bedford.in.us
wwwbedford.in.usMy 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 as 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.

Shawna M. Girgis Mayor

cc: Senator Richard Lugar, Senator Dan Coats, Congressman Todd RokitaI.J