DAILY READT. }H 1 291 

own of 

onawanda 

Office of the Supervisor 

ANTHONY F. CARUANA 

The Honorable Ray LaHood 

Secretary - Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

The Honorable Lisa Jackson 

Administrator - Environmental Protection Agency 

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW 

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 Supervisor 

of the Town of Tonawanda, I am focused on proactive policies to address these critical issues and 

grow my town 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, I wanted to share my views. 

Safe, efficient and reliable transportation impacts each individual, family and business in my town. 

Jobs in the Town of Tonawanda GM Plant, Powertrain Division 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 town. 

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 childsafety seats in the back. Small businesses need vans and utility vehicles to conduct commerce. 

Agriculture depends on pickup, as do the construction industry and local trades. The Town of 

Tonawanda GM Plant - Powertrain Division is an important source of revenue for my town, and it 

depends on vehicles to carry out day-to-day business needs. 

Delaware Avenue - Room 11 . Kenmore, New York 14217 . (716)877-8804 

Fax: (716) 877-1261 

"A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY"
Page 2 

July 13, 2011 

Secretary Ray LaHood 

Administrator Lisa Jackson 

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 arid job preservation is as much as 

priority as raising fuel economy. 

As the Town of Tonawanda Supervisor, I think every day about job creation and security for my town. 

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. 

Anthony F. 

Town of Tonwanda 

Senator Charles Schumer 

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand 

Congresswoman Louise Slaughter 

Congressman Brian Higgins 

Congresswoman Kathy Hochul 

Town Board 

Tonawanda Development Corp.