The Honorable Lisa Jackson 

Ad m n istrato r 

Environmental Protection 

DAILY REAE1N FILE 

Associated 

Industries 

of Missouri 

The Voice of Missouri Business. 

The Honorable Ray La Hood 

Secretary 

Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590

Associated Industries of Missouri


3234 W. Truman Blvd.


Jefferson City, MO 65109


573-634-2246 (p)


573-634-4406 (f)


www.aimo.com

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW 

Washington. DC 20004 

Dear Secretary LaHood and Administrator Jackson: 

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

Associated Industries of Missouri is focused on proactive policies to address these critical issues and 

grow Missouri's economy in a way that provides a more secure future. Transportation is a critical 

component of our economic vitality and because your agencies are now developing national fuel 

economy standards for 2017-2025, we wanted to share our views. 

Safe, efficient and reliable transportation impacts each individual, family and business in Missouri, and 

in America Jobs in Missouri are all 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 are important to 

all of us. We support efforts to improve fuel economy by laying out a long-term program, but encourage 

you to carefully consider a balanced and thoughtful approach: one that establishes one national 

standard that is both reasonably attainable and cost-effective. 

We 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, we recognize that overreaching regulations can place a significant 

cost burden on individuals, families and businesses in Missouri. 

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
Associated Industries of Missouri 

Letter to Secretary LaHood and Administrator Jackson 

July 13, 2011 

Page Two 

depends on affordable and reliable transportation, as do the construction industry and local trades. 

Manufacturing is an important source of jobs and revenue for Missouri and manufacturing depends on 

affordable vehicles to carry out day-to-day business needs. 

Missouri businesses 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 of Missouri's consumers can be expected to hold on to their older vehicles 

longer and defer buying a new car, which could put 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. 

At Associated Industries of Missouri, we think every day about ways to promote job creation and 

security for our 1,100 employer members in Missouri. We encourage you to carefully balance all the 

factors that impact sensible fuel economy standards, including consumer choice, affordability and the 

economic concerns that will affect our nation's economic recovery. 

Ray McCarty 

President/CEO
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