API President Jack Gerard addressing ads recently run by EDF

Bill Bush | 202-682-8069 | bushw@api.org

WASHINGTON, June 26, 2009 - The American Petroleum Institute issued the following statement today by its President Jack Gerard responding to the Environmental Defense Fund’s (EDF’s) attack ads targeting API:

“It’s regrettable EDF wants to engage in the petty politics of personality rather than address what the Waxman-Markey climate bill means to the nation. Independent analysts have said the bill will have huge impacts on American families and businesses. EDF ignores this and simply asserts the bill would be virtually cost-free.

“EDF should address the studies that say Waxman-Markey will eliminate millions of jobs, stress family budgets, slow economic recovery, and, in particular, impose a heavy burden on people and businesses that use gasoline, diesel, and other fuels. It should explain its objections to research that shows the bill could boost gasoline prices anywhere from 23 cents more a gallon to nearly $2 more a gallon - or ten to one hundred times the increase EDF has suggested.

“We need to get this legislation right. Waxman-Markey is being rushed to a vote with insufficient analysis of its impacts on consumers, businesses and the economy and without a full appraisal of other approaches that might address the serious challenge of climate change more efficiently and with less unnecessary harm to America’s workers and consumers. The House needs to take a closer look before it acts.”