Sen. Kelly statement on “EV roadmap” public hearing

For Immediate Release

Sen. Kelly: Majority Democrats could pass
bipartisan clean air standards, but won’t

Sen. Kevin Kelly today issued the following statement regarding the Mar. 13 public hearing on legislation which provides a “roadmap” for majority Democrats to ban gas-powered vehicles:

“The majority can pass a bipartisan bill in support of federal clean air standards right now, but it is choosing not to. Why? Why doesn’t the majority want to join Republicans and move our environmental standards forward together? Instead, they want to create a panel which they portray as ‘objective’, but it will not be unbiased. Instead of passing an achievable, tangible, pro-environment policy that will do no harm to Connecticut families, the majority wants to convene a study panel with a telegraphed outcome: the elimination of consumer choice and an electric vehicle mandate.”

In his testimony to state lawmakers, Sen. Kelly noted how Bill 5485 creates a 40-person work group to study a ‘roadmap’ to the electric vehicle mandate, but only one panelist is specifically and solely designated to voice the concerns of families living in environmental justice communities.  Sen. Kelly said the people most impacted by this unaffordable and extreme mandate are being ignored.  He noted how a public opinion poll conducted last fall showed an overwhelming majority does not want the electric vehicle mandate that limits their consumer choice and this year’s proposed budget has no funding for electrification infrastructure.

“As policymakers, it is unacceptable and wrong to pass laws designed to leave people behind,” Sen. Kelly said.  “Instead, the better way is to adopt the federal emissions standards, which are achievable and will provide cleaner air without burdening poor, working and middle-class families.”

Click here to submit testimony now on House Bill 5485.