* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Holton
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
Title
In Support of State Legislation - Senate Bill 103 - Maryland Clean Cars Act of 2007
FOR the purpose of expressing support for the Maryland Clean Cars Act of 2007 requiring the Department of the Environment and the Motor Vehicle Administration to adopt regulations by December 31, 2007, to establish a low emissions vehicle program applicable to vehicles of the model year 2011 and thereafter; urging the Honorable Chair and Members of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee to give the bill a favorable report; asking the Honorable Chairs and Members of the Baltimore City Senate and House Delegations to the Maryland General Assembly to support passage of the measure; and entreating the Governor to sign the bill into law.
Body
Recitals
According to data released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Marylanders are exposed to a dangerous amount of cancer-causing chemicals in the air, and there are estimates that the average Maryland resident breathes air that has levels of toxins 9 times higher than agency guidelines. Maryland's smog levels are among the worst in the country and are partly to blame for the 150,000 children here who suffer from asthma.
Health problems caused by smog increase health care costs, particularly in children, and hurt worker productivity. Cars and trucks are the single worst source of air pollutants in this state and are responsible for the large majority of airborne carcinogens. The unhealthy levels of these pollutants and volatile organic compounds not only severely jeopardize the health of the citizens of Maryland, but they put in peril the health of the Chesapeake Bay.
Global warming pollution from cars and light trucks has increased by 32%, since 1990, and is projected to rise another 28%, by 2020, if state officials do not take aggressive action to counter the trend. Passage of the Maryland Clean Cars Act would result in a reduction of 4.4 million tons of carbon dioxide pollution in 2020.
One of the most significant measures that can be taken to address global warming is to make "cleaner" cars. Ten other states have already adopted stricter standards for global warming pollution from cars and trucks, requiring manufacturers to make and market cars with reduced global warming emissions. The time has come for Maryland to join in this effort to preserve the earth and its inhabitants.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That this Body hereby expresses support for the Maryland Clean Cars Act of 2007 requiring the Department of the Environment and the Motor Vehicle Administration to adopt regulations by December 31, 2007, to establish a low emissions vehicle program applicable to vehicles of the model year 2011 and thereafter; urges the Honorable Chair and Members of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee to give the bill a favorable report; asks the Honorable Chairs and Members of the Baltimore City Senate and House Delegations to the Maryland General Assembly to support passage of the measure; and entreats the Governor to sign the bill into law.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Honorable Chair of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee is respectfully requested to include this letter of support as part of the Committee record of written testimony.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Governor, the Mayor, the Honorable Chairs and Members of the Baltimore City Senate and House Delegations to the Maryland General Assembly, the Honorable Chair of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, the Honorable Brian E. Frosh, the Baltimore City Health Commissioner, the Executive Director of the Mayor's Office of State Relations, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
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