Rep. Maxine Waters (CA-43), chair of the House Financial Services Committee, released a statement after Trump administration officials threatened to cut federal transportation funding from California—while accusing the state of failing to meet federal air quality standards. This occured less than one week after the administration announced it is revoking California’s authority to set higher auto emissions standards than those required by the federal government.
The State of California, along with 23 other states and the cities of Los Angeles and New York, filed a lawsuit on Sept. 20 challenging the Trump administration’s attempt to undermine California’s auto emissions standards. Here is Waters’ statement:
“The Trump administration’s threat to cut federal transportation funding from the State of California is a blatant attempt at intimidation. This shameless threat comes less than one week after the administration announced it is revoking California’s authority to set higher auto emissions standards. It is completely disingenuous for this administration to demand that we clean up our air while robbing us of the tools to do so.
“Donald Trump is engaged in a shameless attempt to punish the great State of California for enforcing tough environmental rules and resisting the corruption and chaos of his administration.
“The people of California are not fooled. We know that Trump does not care about the air we breathe. We know that Trump is doing everything he can to slash funding for environmental protection, roll back clean air and clean water standards, open up the Atlantic and Pacific coasts to offshore oil drilling, undermine efforts to fight climate change, and enrich the polluters who donated to his campaign. We know that this president is corrupt, vengeful, and thoroughly unfit to serve as president of the United States.
“Californians will not be intimidated by Donald Trump and his cronies. We will continue to resist his heartless, corrupt, and cruel administration. We will win our lawsuit and protect our right to enforce strong emissions standards, fight climate change, and protect public health.”
