December 3, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact
Milagros R. Elia
Program Manager, Climate and Clean Energy Advocacy
Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments
[email protected]
914.455.1165
Nurses Continue to Oppose Rollbacks to Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards
[Washington, D.C.]- On December 3, 2025, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released a proposal that would weaken the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for new vehicles starting in model year 2027. The proposal sets standards lower than what the nation’s vehicle fleet is already achieving. There will be an opportunity for public comment for 45 days once the proposal is published in the Federal Register. A hearing will also be held.In response to the proposal, the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments Executive Director Katie Huffling, DNP, RN, CNM, FAAN issued the following statement:
“Rolling back standards that make vehicles more fuel efficient threatens the progress made in reducing dangerous air pollution and preventing adverse health outcomes, especially for our most medically sensitive groups, such as children and older adults. Children are particularly vulnerable and this population can experience new cases of asthma, experience worsening symptoms of asthma symptoms and increased risk of respiratory infection with increased vehicle emissions.
“In addition, over 26 million people of color live in counties that received failing grades on air quality measures which makes this proposal extremely concerning. By weakening the CAFE Rule, this proposal effectively threatens to result in increased air pollution, with serious potential for dramatically harming health as well as exponentially raising health care costs for already under-resourced families across the nation.
“Nurses will not stop fighting for a clean energy economy that protects our planet and our communities. We stand united in strongly opposing efforts to weaken standards that protect health from traffic-related pollution.”
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The Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments is the only national nursing organization focused solely on the intersection of health and the environment. The mission of the Alliance is to promote healthy people and healthy environments by educating and leading the nursing profession, advancing research, incorporating evidence-based practice, and influencing policy.
http://enviRN.org
