By: Melody Reis, Federal Policy Director, Moms Clean Air Force
Date: January 5, 2026
About: CAFE Standards
To: NHTSA
Thank you for the opportunity to testify. My name is Melody Reis and I am the Federal Policy Director at Moms Clean Air Force. I support strong CAFE standards and am here to urge NHTSA not to weaken these rules. Weakened fuel economy standards would mean more dangerous pollution, both the greenhouse gases that are warming our climate, and the air pollution that harms our bodies.
Where I live, in the DC Metro area, we’re already living with unhealthy air. In the American Lung Association’s most recent State of the Air Report, DC received a failing grade both for particle pollution and for ozone. And we’re not alone: 46% of Americans— over 150 million people—are living with unhealthy air according to the 2025 report. That’s nearly 25 million more people than in the previous year’s report, and the highest number in the past decade. We are trending in the wrong direction.
Breathing pollution can damage our lungs, hearts, and brains. And children – whose bodies are still growing – are particularly vulnerable. Moreover, tailpipe pollution is climate pollution - it contributes to the global warming that’s fueling extreme weather. And again, children – whose worlds will be shaped by the decisions we make today – are particularly vulnerable. I’ve seen the number of dangerously hot days increase over the two decades I’ve lived in the DC area, and the devastating flooding that just occurred in my home state of Washington – yes, it’s a rainy place, but the recent rains were record-setting. Every year, more and more records are set – historic temperatures, historic floods, historic storms - and parents, afraid of what the future holds for their children, look to the government for help.
But rather than incentivizing the auto industry to innovate – to lead the way in the production of more efficient, more affordable cars - the Trump administration’s new proposal sets standards lower than what the nation’s vehicle fleet is already achieving. It’s like holding a high jump contest and instead of raising the bar after all the competitors have cleared it, deciding to literally lower the bar.
Repealing these vital protections is the opposite of what we need. Our air is already unhealthy. Our climate is already changing. This is a time to innovate, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and to turn things around for future generations. I urge NHTSA to withdraw this proposed rollback, which will lead to more harmful air pollution in our communities, the burning of more fossil fuels at a time when we need less, and higher costs during an affordability crisis. This proposal will harm, not help, American families. Thank you for your time.