President Donald Trump announced plans Wednesday to re-examine federal requirements governing the fuel efficiency of cars and trucks, moving forcefully against Obama-era environmental regulations that Trump says are stifling economic growth.

Trump revealed his plans during a speech at an automotive testing center near Detroit.

The EPA under Obama had promulgated a rule for cars and trucks requiring a fleet-wide average of 36 mpg in real-world driving by 2025.

Trump's announcement, while having no immediate effect, is expected to set the stage for weaker fuel efficiency standards as well as drawn-out legal battles with environmental groups and states such as California that adopted their own tough tailpipe standards for drivers.

Ypsilanti, Michigan – March 15, 2017

1. President Donald Trump arrives on stage

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writer:

"What the president announced today was he's going to review some fuel economy standards that were put in place by the Obama administration's Environmental Protection Agency. He's going to review those and possibly weaken them so they make it easier for automakers to comply."

3. SOUNDBITE (English) President Donald Trump:

"I'm sure you've all heard the big news that we're going to work on the CAFE standards, so you can make cars in America again. We're going to help the companies, and they're going to help you."

4. Various of Trump on stage and the "Buy American – Hire American" sign behind him

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writer:

"There are many, many environmental groups that would disagree that it's going to create any more jobs. There have been a lot of jobs created in meeting the standards over the years, but, if the automakers can comply easier and they can make more trucks and SUVs, they make more money. And that more than likely means more jobs as well."

6. SOUNDBITE (English) President Donald Trump:

"We are going to ensure that any regulations we have protect and defend your jobs, your factories. We're going to be fair. We're going to be fair."

7. Various of vehicles at the event site

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writer:

"What this does is set up a confrontation with California, or a potential confrontation. California has different clean-air standards, and if the Trump administration relaxes what Obama had put in place right before he left office, California would want still the standard under the Obama administration _ the 36 mile-per-gallon standard. If that happens, the Trump administration might try to take away California's power to set its own emissions standards. And that could set off a big court fight. But that's probably a year, year-and-a-half down the road."

9. Trump waves to the crowd after his speech

President Donald Trump announced plans Wednesday to re-examine federal requirements governing the fuel efficiency of cars and trucks, moving forcefully against Obama-era environmental regulations that Trump says are stifling economic growth.

Trump revealed his plans during a speech at an automotive testing center near Detroit.

The EPA under Obama had promulgated a rule for cars and trucks requiring a fleet-wide average of 36 mpg in real-world driving by 2025.

Trump's announcement, while having no immediate effect, is expected to set the stage for weaker fuel efficiency standards as well as drawn-out legal battles with environmental groups and states such as California that adopted their own tough tailpipe standards for drivers.

Ypsilanti, Michigan – March 15, 2017

1. President Donald Trump arrives on stage

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writer:

"What the president announced today was he's going to review some fuel economy standards that were put in place by the Obama administration's Environmental Protection Agency. He's going to review those and possibly weaken them so they make it easier for automakers to comply."

3. SOUNDBITE (English) President Donald Trump:

"I'm sure you've all heard the big news that we're going to work on the CAFE standards, so you can make cars in America again. We're going to help the companies, and they're going to help you."

4. Various of Trump on stage and the "Buy American – Hire American" sign behind him

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writer:

"There are many, many environmental groups that would disagree that it's going to create any more jobs. There have been a lot of jobs created in meeting the standards over the years, but, if the automakers can comply easier and they can make more trucks and SUVs, they make more money. And that more than likely means more jobs as well."

6. SOUNDBITE (English) President Donald Trump:

"We are going to ensure that any regulations we have protect and defend your jobs, your factories. We're going to be fair. We're going to be fair."

7. Various of vehicles at the event site

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writer:

"What this does is set up a confrontation with California, or a potential confrontation. California has different clean-air standards, and if the Trump administration relaxes what Obama had put in place right before he left office, California would want still the standard under the Obama administration _ the 36 mile-per-gallon standard. If that happens, the Trump administration might try to take away California's power to set its own emissions standards. And that could set off a big court fight. But that's probably a year, year-and-a-half down the road."

9. Trump waves to the crowd after his speech

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that his administration is revoking California's authority to set auto mileage standards stricter than those issued by federal regulators, a move critics said would result in less fuel efficient cars that create more planet-warming pollution.

In a tweet, Trump said his action would result in less expensive, safer cars. He also predicted Americans would purchase more new cars, which would result in cleaner air as older models are taken off the roads.

U.S. automakers contend that without year-over-year increases in fuel efficiency that align with global market realities their vehicles could be less competitive, potentially resulting in job losses. However, most of the industry favors increases in standards that are less than the Obama-era requirements, saying their consumers are gravitating to gas-guzzling SUVs and trucks rather than buying more efficient cars.

Top California officials and environmental groups pledged legal action on Wednesday to stop the rollback, potentially tying up the issue for years in federal courts. The U.S. transportation sector is the nation's biggest single source of greenhouse gasses.

It's not clear yet what the Trump administration will propose as its final fuel-efficiency rules, but in the past it has favored freezing Obama-era mileage standards at 2021 levels. Under the Obama administration requirements, the fleet of new vehicles would have to average 30 mpg in real-world driving by 2021, rising to 36 mpg in 2025. Currently the standard is 26 mpg.

Under Trump, the Environmental Protection Agency contends that freezing the fuel economy standards will reduce the average sticker price of new vehicles by about $2,700 by 2025, though that predicted savings is disputed by environmental groups and is more than double the EPA estimates from the prior administration.

Trump traveled to California for GOP fundraising events Tuesday and Wednesday near San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego.

California's authority to set its own, tougher emissions standards goes back to a waiver issued by Congress during passage of the Clean Air Act in 1970. In 2007, when Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger was governor, President George W. Bush's administration denied California's bid to place first-in-the-nation greenhouse gas limits on cars and trucks. But the state asked the EPA to reconsider its decision, and in 2009 — when Democratic President Barack Obama took office — the feds granted California's request.

California has 35 million registered vehicles, the most of any state. A dozen other states and the District of Columbia also follow California's fuel economy standards.

Oakland, California - 18 September 2019

1. Cars driving past 76 gas station

2. Sign with gas prices

3. Gas nozzle going into car gas tank

Los Angeles - 18 September 2019

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Chris Chavez, Coalition for Clean Air, deputy policy director:

"The administration started indicating that they would be interested in revoking California's waiver and freezing fuel efficiency standards at 2021 levels since they took power."

Oakland, California - 18 September 2019

5. Vehicles driving on Interstate 880

6. View of freeway traffic from inside vehicle

Los Angeles - 18 September 2019

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Chris Chavez, Coalition for Clean Air, deputy policy director:

"Our initial reaction is not necessarily one of surprise but certainly one of disappointment. We knew this was coming. It has been been worked on for about three years but ultimately we are certainly opposed to revoking California's waiver and also the freezing emission standards or CAFE standards at 2021. So our hope certainly is that we're going to continue working on this and opposing it in any way we can."

Oakland, California - 18 September 2019

8. Vehicles driving on Interstate 880

9. View of freeway traffic from inside vehicle

Los Angeles - 18 September 2019

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Chris Chavez, Coalition for Clean Air, deputy policy director:

"The Bush administration threatened to not give California a waiver that got tied up in lawsuits and eventually that got drug out in court until the Obama administration came into power in which he reached an agreement with California. The unique thing about this situation though is that Trump is going in and actively undoing something that was already given to California. So California's waiver was approved in 2016. This is reopening what's called the midterm review and going back and saying that they're taking away the waiver."

Oakland, California - 18 September 2019

10. Cars driving past Valero gas station

11. Station sign with gas prices

Los Angeles - 18 September 2019

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Chris Chavez, Coalition for Clean Air, deputy policy director:

"California has long been a climate leader. And if we're going to stick to our greenhouse gas emission requirements, not goals but just requirements, these emission standards are vitally important."

ARCHIVE

Los Angeles - 3 April 2018

13. Various of freeway traffic

US President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that his administration is revoking California's authority to set auto mileage standards stricter than those issued by federal regulators, a move critics said would result in less fuel efficient cars that create more planet-warming pollution.

In a tweet, Trump said his action would result in less expensive, safer cars. He also predicted Americans would purchase more new cars, which would result in cleaner air as older models are taken off the roads.

U.S. automakers contend that without year-over-year increases in fuel efficiency that align with global market realities their vehicles could be less competitive, potentially resulting in job losses. However, most of the industry favors increases in standards that are less than the Obama-era requirements, saying their consumers are gravitating to gas-guzzling SUVs and trucks rather than buying more efficient cars.

Top California officials and environmental groups pledged legal action on Wednesday to stop the rollback, potentially tying up the issue for years in federal courts. The U.S. transportation sector is the nation's biggest single source of greenhouse gasses.

It's not clear yet what the Trump administration will propose as its final fuel-efficiency rules, but in the past it has favored freezing Obama-era mileage standards at 2021 levels. Under the Obama administration requirements, the fleet of new vehicles would have to average 30 mpg in real-world driving by 2021, rising to 36 mpg in 2025. Currently the standard is 26 mpg.

Under Trump, the Environmental Protection Agency contends that freezing the fuel economy standards will reduce the average sticker price of new vehicles by about $2,700 by 2025, though that predicted savings is disputed by environmental groups and is more than double the EPA estimates from the prior administration.

Trump traveled to California for GOP fundraising events Tuesday and Wednesday near San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego.

California's authority to set its own, tougher emissions standards goes back to a waiver issued by Congress during passage of the Clean Air Act in 1970. In 2007, when Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger was governor, President George W. Bush's administration denied California's bid to place first-in-the-nation greenhouse gas limits on cars and trucks. But the state asked the EPA to reconsider its decision, and in 2009 — when Democratic President Barack Obama took office — the feds granted California's request.

California has 35 million registered vehicles, the most of any state. A dozen other states and the District of Columbia also follow California's fuel economy standards.

Oakland, California - 18 September 2019

1. Cars driving past 76 gas station

2. Sign with gas prices

3. Gas nozzle going into car gas tank

Los Angeles - 18 September 2019

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Chris Chavez, Coalition for Clean Air, deputy policy director:

"The administration started indicating that they would be interested in revoking California's waiver and freezing fuel efficiency standards at 2021 levels since they took power."

Oakland, California - 18 September 2019

5. Vehicles driving on Interstate 880

6. View of freeway traffic from inside vehicle

Los Angeles - 18 September 2019

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Chris Chavez, Coalition for Clean Air, deputy policy director:

"Our initial reaction is not necessarily one of surprise but certainly one of disappointment. We knew this was coming. It has been been worked on for about three years but ultimately we are certainly opposed to revoking California's waiver and also the freezing emission standards or CAFE standards at 2021. So our hope certainly is that we're going to continue working on this and opposing it in any way we can."

Oakland, California - 18 September 2019

8. Vehicles driving on Interstate 880

9. View of freeway traffic from inside vehicle

Los Angeles - 18 September 2019

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Chris Chavez, Coalition for Clean Air, deputy policy director:

"The Bush administration threatened to not give California a waiver that got tied up in lawsuits and eventually that got drug out in court until the Obama administration came into power in which he reached an agreement with California. The unique thing about this situation though is that Trump is going in and actively undoing something that was already given to California. So California's waiver was approved in 2016. This is reopening what's called the midterm review and going back and saying that they're taking away the waiver."

Oakland, California - 18 September 2019

10. Cars driving past Valero gas station

11. Station sign with gas prices

Los Angeles - 18 September 2019

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Chris Chavez, Coalition for Clean Air, deputy policy director:

"California has long been a climate leader. And if we're going to stick to our greenhouse gas emission requirements, not goals but just requirements, these emission standards are vitally important."

ARCHIVE

Los Angeles - 3 April 2018

13. Various of freeway traffic

The Trump administration unveils a national fuel economy standards rule that would revoke California's authority to set its own auto emission standards, authority it has had for decades under a waiver from the federal Clean Air Act.

"The one national program that we are announcing today will ensure that there is one and only one set of national fuel economy standards as Congress mandated and intended," said Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao.

"No state has the authority to opt out of the nation's rules and no state has the right to impose its policies on everybody else in our whole country. To do otherwise, harms consumers and damages the American economy."

Chao's comments came Thursday during a joint press conference with Envirnonmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler in Washington.

"California's climate impacts are not extraordinarily distinct from those felt in other states," said Wheeler.

"It's time to put California's waiver back in its box, the box that Congress always intended it to stand, California's unique extraordinary criteria air pollutant issues."

California has 35 million registered vehicles, giving it outsized influence with the auto industry.

That heft was on display in July, when Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom announced four automakers, Ford, BMW, Honda and Volkswagen  agreed to follow California's standards, bypassing the Trump administration, which had been working on new rules.

California officials have been negotiating with other automakers to follow suit, but those talks stalled Wednesday when President Donald Trump announced, via Twitter, that he was revoking California's authority to set its own emission standards.

The administration argues that lower-cost vehicles would allow more people to buy new ones that are safer, cutting roadway deaths by 12,700 lives through the 2029 model year.

But The Associated Press reported last year that internal EPA emails show senior career officials privately questioned the administration's calculations, saying the proposed freeze would actually modestly increase highway fatalities, by about 17 deaths annually.

Washington DC - 19 September 2019

1. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao walking up to press conference

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Elaine Chao, Secretary of Transportation:

"The one national program that we are announcing today will ensure that there is one and only one set of national fuel economy standards as Congress mandated and intended. No state has the authority to opt out of the nation's rules and no state has the right to impose its policies on everybody else in our whole country. To do otherwise, harms consumers and damages the American economy."

3. Cutaway

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Elaine Chao, Secretary of Transportation:

"It should be noted that this rule only applies to fuel economy. It will not affect California's ability to refocus its efforts on fighting the worst air pollution in the country and comply with existing regulations."

5. Cutaway

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Elaine Chao, Secretary of Transportation:

"With today's one national program rule, the administration is standing up for all Americans, their needs and their right to choose. We will not let political agendas in a single state be forced upon the other 49 and we will always put safety first."

7. Cutaway

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Andrew Wheeler, EPA Administrator:

"Under the Energy Policy Conservation Act or EPCA, DOT sets CAFE standards. EPCA expressly provides that the federal government regulates fuel economy, not the states. Since there is a direct scientific link between a car's greenhouse gas emissions and its fuel economy deal, DOT is determining that EPCA permit preempts state GHG and zero emission vehicle programs. That's one basis on which EPA intends to withdraw the 2013 waiver for California's state GHG and Zev programs."

9. Cutaway

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Andrew Wheeler, EPA Administrator:

"There is a direct and tight link between one California cars and their emissions of criteria pollutants, two the local concentrations of those emissions and three the impacts they have on California due to the state's extraordinary perfect storm of features like population, traffic temperature, wind, ocean currents and topography. But for greenhouse gases the tight and direct link isn't there. California cars have no closer link to California climate impacts, than do cars on the road in Japan or anywhere else in the world."

11. Cutaway

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Andrew Wheeler, EPA Administrator:

"And California's climate impacts are not extraordinarily distinct from those felt in other states in the same way that it's smog impacts are. It makes sense that Congress carved out waiver authority for California to address its unique local problems. It does not make sense to use that authority to try to address national and global issues like greenhouse gas emissions. It's time to put California's waiver back in its box, the box that Congress always intended it to stand, California's unique extraordinary criteria air pollutant issues."

13. Cutaway of end of press conference

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus123788

The Trump administration unveils a national fuel economy standards rule that would revoke California's authority to set its own auto emission standards, authority it has had for decades under a waiver from the federal Clean Air Act.

"The one national program that we are announcing today will ensure that there is one and only one set of national fuel economy standards as Congress mandated and intended," said Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao.

"No state has the authority to opt out of the nation's rules and no state has the right to impose its policies on everybody else in our whole country. To do otherwise, harms consumers and damages the American economy."

Chao's comments came Thursday during a joint press conference with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler in Washington.

"California's climate impacts are not extraordinarily distinct from those felt in other states," said Wheeler.

"It's time to put California's waiver back in its box, the box that Congress always intended it to stand, California's unique extraordinary criteria air pollutant issues."

California has 35 million registered vehicles, giving it outsized influence with the auto industry.

That heft was on display in July, when Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom announced four automakers, Ford, BMW, Honda and Volkswagen  agreed to follow California's standards, bypassing the Trump administration, which had been working on new rules.

California officials have been negotiating with other automakers to follow suit, but those talks stalled Wednesday when President Donald Trump announced, via Twitter, that he was revoking California's authority to set its own emission standards.

The administration argues that lower-cost vehicles would allow more people to buy new ones that are safer, cutting roadway deaths by 12,700 lives through the 2029 model year.

But The Associated Press reported last year that internal EPA emails show senior career officials privately questioned the administration's calculations, saying the proposed freeze would actually modestly increase highway fatalities, by about 17 deaths annually.

Washington DC - 19 September 2019

1. SOUNDBITE (English) Elaine Chao, Secretary of Transportation:

"The one national program that we are announcing today will ensure that there is one and only one set of national fuel economy standards as Congress mandated and intended. No state has the authority to opt out of the nation's rules and no state has the right to impose its policies on everybody else in our whole country. To do otherwise, harms consumers and damages the American economy."

++SEPARATED BY WHITE FLASH++

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Elaine Chao, Secretary of Transportation:

"With today's one national program rule, the administration is standing up for all Americans, their needs and their right to choose. We will not let political agendas in a single state be forced upon the other 49 and we will always put safety first."

++SEPARATED BY WHITE FLASH++

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Andrew Wheeler, EPA Administrator:

"And California's climate impacts are not extraordinarily distinct from those felt in other states in the same way that it's smog impacts are. It makes sense that Congress carved out waiver authority for California to address its unique local problems. It does not make sense to use that authority to try to address national and global issues like greenhouse gas emissions. It's time to put California's waiver back in its box, the box that Congress always intended it to stand, California's unique extraordinary criteria air pollutant issues."

The Trump administration unveils a national fuel economy standards rule that would revoke California's authority to set its own auto emission standards, authority it has had for decades under a waiver from the federal Clean Air Act.

"The one national program that we are announcing today will ensure that there is one and only one set of national fuel economy standards as Congress mandated and intended," said Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao.

"No state has the authority to opt out of the nation's rules and no state has the right to impose its policies on everybody else in our whole country. To do otherwise, harms consumers and damages the American economy."

Chao's comments came Thursday during a joint press conference with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler in Washington.

"California's climate impacts are not extraordinarily distinct from those felt in other states," said Wheeler.

"It's time to put California's waiver back in its box, the box that Congress always intended it to stand, California's unique extraordinary criteria air pollutant issues."

California has 35 million registered vehicles, giving it outsized influence with the auto industry.

That heft was on display in July, when Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom announced four automakers, Ford, BMW, Honda and Volkswagen  agreed to follow California's standards, bypassing the Trump administration, which had been working on new rules.

California officials have been negotiating with other automakers to follow suit, but those talks stalled Wednesday when President Donald Trump announced, via Twitter, that he was revoking California's authority to set its own emission standards.

The administration argues that lower-cost vehicles would allow more people to buy new ones that are safer, cutting roadway deaths by 12,700 lives through the 2029 model year.

But The Associated Press reported last year that internal EPA emails show senior career officials privately questioned the administration's calculations, saying the proposed freeze would actually modestly increase highway fatalities, by about 17 deaths annually.

Washington DC - 19 September 2019

1. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao walking up to press conference

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Elaine Chao, Secretary of Transportation:

"The one national program that we are announcing today will ensure that there is one and only one set of national fuel economy standards as Congress mandated and intended. No state has the authority to opt out of the nation's rules and no state has the right to impose its policies on everybody else in our whole country. To do otherwise, harms consumers and damages the American economy."

3. Cutaway

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Elaine Chao, Secretary of Transportation:

"It should be noted that this rule only applies to fuel economy. It will not affect California's ability to refocus its efforts on fighting the worst air pollution in the country and comply with existing regulations."

5. Cutaway

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Elaine Chao, Secretary of Transportation:

"With today's one national program rule, the administration is standing up for all Americans, their needs and their right to choose. We will not let political agendas in a single state be forced upon the other 49 and we will always put safety first."

7. Cutaway

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Andrew Wheeler, EPA Administrator:

"Under the Energy Policy Conservation Act or EPCA, DOT sets CAFE standards. EPCA expressly provides that the federal government regulates fuel economy, not the states. Since there is a direct scientific link between a car's greenhouse gas emissions and its fuel economy deal, DOT is determining that EPCA permit preempts state GHG and zero emission vehicle programs. That's one basis on which EPA intends to withdraw the 2013 waiver for California's state GHG and Zev programs."

9. Cutaway

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Andrew Wheeler, EPA Administrator:

"There is a direct and tight link between one California cars and their emissions of criteria pollutants, two the local concentrations of those emissions and three the impacts they have on California due to the state's extraordinary perfect storm of features like population, traffic temperature, wind, ocean currents and topography. But for greenhouse gases the tight and direct link isn't there. California cars have no closer link to California climate impacts, than do cars on the road in Japan or anywhere else in the world."

11. Cutaway

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Andrew Wheeler, EPA Administrator:

"And California's climate impacts are not extraordinarily distinct from those felt in other states in the same way that it's smog impacts are. It makes sense that Congress carved out waiver authority for California to address its unique local problems. It does not make sense to use that authority to try to address national and global issues like greenhouse gas emissions. It's time to put California's waiver back in its box, the box that Congress always intended it to stand, California's unique extraordinary criteria air pollutant issues."

13. Cutaway of end of press conference

Washington - 11 May 2018

++STARTS ON SOUNDBITE++

1. SOUNDBITE: (English) President Donald Trump:

"We're working on CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards, environmental controls. We're working on how to build more cars in the United States. We have a great capacity for building. We're importing a lot of cars and we want a lot of those cars to be made in the United States. I think what we'll do just very quickly because we're represented by so much media. We'll just run around the room really quickly and you can introduce yourself and the company will talk for a couple of minutes and we'll talk privately. But we are going to -- again for the media -  we're really talking about environmental control, CAFE standards and manufacturing of millions of more cars within the United States for Michigan for Ohio for Pennsylvania for all of the different places - South Carolina getting bigger and bigger, North Carolina."

2. Various of Trump introducing administration officials and guests introducing themselves

3. Guests of White House and EPA administrator Scott Pruitt introduce themselves

4. SOUNDBITE: (English) President Donald Trump:

(Reporter: ++OFF-CAMERA++ "Mr. President do you still have confidence in Administrator Pruitt?")

Yes I do, thank you.

(Reporter: ++OFF-CAMERA++ "So, he's going to stay in his job?")

"Thank you, very much everybody."  

5. SOUNDBITE: (English) President Donald Trump: ++responding to question on NAFTA++

"We'll see what happens. We're negotiating NAFTA right now. I've never been a NAFTA fan, as you know. NAFTA's been a terrible deal for the United States, one of the worst trade deals in history. We have some bad deals in this country, between the Iran deal, NAFTA, Mary (speaking to guest,) we can look at any deal. They're bad deals. But now we're going to good deals. NAFTA has been a terrible deal. We're renegotiating it now. We'll see what happens. Mexico and Canada... look they don't like to lose the golden goose, but I'm representing the United States. I'm not representing Mexico and I'm not representing Canada, but NAFTA has been a horrible, horrible disaster for this country. And we'll see if we can make it reasonable."

6. Wide of meeting as reporters leave

STORYLINE:

Executives from 10 auto companies met with President Donald Trump and cabinet officials on Friday to discuss the administration's plan to reduce gas mileage and pollution requirements enacted during the Obama administration.

The auto industry wants to relax the standards, but not so much that they provoke a legal fight with California, which has power to impose its own stricter tailpipe pollution limits.

Such a fight could bring two mileage standards in the U.S., forcing automakers to engineer and produce two versions of each of their vehicle models, driving up costs.

Scott Pruitt, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA,) was also at the meeting. He has being investigated by Congressional committees for pricey taxpayer-funded travel.

After months of news reports and announcements of investigations on alleged ethical lapses, White House sources have signaled that President Donald Trump's support for his environmental chief appears to be wavering.

On Friday, however, when questioned by a reporter if he still has confidence in Pruitt, Trump replied, "Yes, I do."

He didn't respond to a follow-up question on whether Pruitt would remain in his job.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans Wednesday to re-examine federal requirements governing the fuel efficiency of cars and trucks, moving forcefully against Obama-era environmental regulations that Trump says are stifling economic growth.

Trump was set to reveal his plans during a speech at an automotive testing center near Detroit, but he previewed the announcement during a round-table meeting at the American Center for Mobility with auto company executives and workers, just before the speech.

The EPA under Obama had promulgated a rule for cars and trucks requiring a fleetwide average of 36 mpg in real-world driving by 2025.

Trump's announcement, while having no immediate effect, is expected to set the stage for weaker fuel efficiency standards as well as drawn-out legal battles with environmental groups and states such as California that adopted their own tough tailpipe standards for drivers.

As a practical matter, Trump's announcement will target the Obama administration's January decision to lock in strict gas mileage requirements for cars and light trucks, ending a review process before the Democrat left office.

Back in 2012, the Obama administration set fuel-economy regulations for model years 2017-2025 and agreed to complete a midterm evaluation by 2018. But seven days before Obama left office, the EPA decided to keep the stringent requirements it had set in place for model years 2022 to 2025. The industry balked at the decision, insisting it was rushed through to beat the change in administrations.

Trump said he's putting that midterm review back on track, so officials can spend another year studying the issue before setting new standards in 2018.

Trump campaigned on eliminating "job killing" regulations, and the administration is expected to take additional steps in the coming days to roll back environmental regulations.

POOL

Ypsilanti - 15 March 2017

++SOUNDBITES SEPARATED BY WHITE FLASHES++

1. Wide, President Donald Trump entering hall

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"I am sure you have all heard the big news that we are going to work on the CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards, so you can make cars in America again. We are going to help the companies and they are going to help you. There is no more beautiful sight than an American made car, no more beautiful sight. I love this state. I love the people of this state and you did me a big favor and that victory hasn't been won by a Republican in a long time. Long time. And you are going to be very happy, believe me. Very, very happy. During the campaign I came to Michigan again and again and I made this promise, that I am going to fight for your jobs and fight very very hard."

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"We want to be the car capital of the world again. We will be and it won't be long, believe me."

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"Already we are seeing jobs coming back. Since my election Ford has announced 700 new jobs coming back to their plant in Flat Rock, Michigan. Fiat Chrysler has announced that they will create 2,000 new jobs in Michigan and Ohio. And just today, breaking news, General Motors announced that they are adding, or keeping, 900 jobs right here in Michigan and that is going to be over the next twelve months and that is just the beginning, folks. In fact, I told them that's peanuts, peanuts."

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"Today I am announcing that we are going to cancel that executive action, we are going to restore the originally scheduled midterm review and we are going to ensure that any regulations we have protect and defend your jobs, your factories. We are going to be fair, going to be fair. This is an issue of deep importance to me. For decades I have raised the alarm over unfair foreign trade practices that have robbed communities of their wealth and robbed our people of their ability to provide for their families. They've stolen our jobs, they've stolen our companies and our politicians sat back and watched. Hopeless ... not anymore"

U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans Wednesday to re-examine federal requirements governing the fuel efficiency of cars and trucks, moving forcefully against Obama-era environmental regulations that Trump says are stifling economic growth.

Trump was set to reveal his plans during a speech at an automotive testing center near Detroit, but he previewed the announcement during a round-table meeting at the American Center for Mobility with auto company executives and workers, just before the speech.

The EPA under Obama had promulgated a rule for cars and trucks requiring a fleetwide average of 36 mpg in real-world driving by 2025.

Trump's announcement, while having no immediate effect, is expected to set the stage for weaker fuel efficiency standards as well as drawn-out legal battles with environmental groups and states such as California that adopted their own tough tailpipe standards for drivers.

As a practical matter, Trump's announcement will target the Obama administration's January decision to lock in strict gas mileage requirements for cars and light trucks, ending a review process before the Democrat left office.

Back in 2012, the Obama administration set fuel-economy regulations for model years 2017-2025 and agreed to complete a midterm evaluation by 2018. But seven days before Obama left office, the EPA decided to keep the stringent requirements it had set in place for model years 2022 to 2025. The industry balked at the decision, insisting it was rushed through to beat the change in administrations.

Trump said he's putting that midterm review back on track, so officials can spend another year studying the issue before setting new standards in 2018.

Trump campaigned on eliminating "job killing" regulations, and the administration is expected to take additional steps in the coming days to roll back environmental regulations.

POOL

Ypsilanti - 15 March 2017

++SOUNDBITES SEPARATED BY BLACK++

1. Wide, President Donald Trump entering hall

2. Mid, Trump at podium

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"I am sure you have all heard the big news that we are going to work on the CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards, so you can make cars in America again. We are going to help the companies and they are going to help you. There is no more beautiful sight than an American made car, no more beautiful sight. I love this state. I love the people of this state and you did me a big favor and that victory hasn't been won by a Republican in a long time. Long time. And you are going to be very happy, believe me. Very, very happy. During the campaign I came to Michigan again and again and I made this promise, that I am going to fight for your jobs and fight very very hard."

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"We want to be the car capitol of the world again. We will be and it won't be long, believe me."

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"Already we are seeing jobs coming back. Since my election Ford has announced 700 new jobs coming back to their plant in Flat Rock, Michigan. Fiat Chrysler has announced that they will create 2,000 new jobs in Michigan and Ohio. And just today, breaking news, General Motors announced that they are adding, or keeping, 900 jobs right here in Michigan and that is going to be over the next twelve months and that is just the beginning, folks. In fact, I told them that's peanuts, peanuts."

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"Today I am announcing that we are going to cancel that executive action, we are going to restore the originally scheduled midterm review and we are going to ensure that any regulations we have protect and defend your jobs, your factories. We are going to be fair, going to be fair. This is an issue of deep importance to me. For decades I have raised the alarm over unfair foreign trade practices that have robbed communities of their wealth and robbed our people of their ability to provide for their families. They've stolen our jobs, they've stolen our companies and our politicians sat back and watched. Hopeless ... not anymore"

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"I am asking all the companies here today to join us in this new industrial revolution. Let us put American workers, American families and American dreams first once again. May God bless the American worker. May God bless the motor city and may God bless the United States of America. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you everybody."

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday spoke about his plans to boost the nations car manufacturers in an address at the American Center for Mobility in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

The centre was used to produce B-24 bombers during World War II but is being converted into an automotive testing and product development centre.

Ahead of his visit, Trump confirmed plans to re-examine federal requirements governing the fuel efficiency of cars and trucks, moving forcefully against Obama-era environmental regulations that he said are stifling economic growth.

Under Obama, the Environmental Protection Agency promulgated a rule for cars and trucks requiring a fleetwide average of 36 miles per gallon (15.3 kilometres per litre) in real-world driving by 2025.

Trump's announcement, while having no immediate effect, is expected to set the stage for weaker fuel efficiency standards as well as drawn-out legal battles with environmental groups and states such as California that adopted their own tough tailpipe standards for drivers.

As a practical matter, Trump's announcement will target the Obama administration's January decision to lock in strict gas mileage requirements for cars and light trucks, ending a review process before the Democrat left office.

++NO SETUPS OR CUTAWAYS AVAILABLE, SOUNDBITE SEPARATED BY BLACK++

POOL

Ypsilanti - 15 March 2017

1. President Donald Trump entering hall

2. Trump at podium

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"I am sure you have all heard the big news that we are going to work on the CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards, so you can make cars in America again. We are going to help the companies and they are going to help you. There is no more beautiful sight than an American-made car, no more beautiful sight. I love this state. I love the people of this state and you did me a big favour and that victory hasn't been won by a Republican in a long time. Long time. And you are going to be very happy, believe me. Very, very happy. During the campaign, I came to Michigan again and again and I made this promise, that I am going to fight for your jobs and fight very, very hard."

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"We want to be the car capital of the world again. We will be and it won't be long, believe me."

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"Already we are seeing jobs coming back. Since my election, Ford has announced 700 new jobs coming back to their plant in Flat Rock, Michigan. Fiat Chrysler has announced that they will create 2,000 new jobs in Michigan and Ohio. And just today, breaking news, General Motors announced that they are adding, or keeping, 900 jobs right here in Michigan and that is going to be over the next 12 months and that is just the beginning, folks. In fact, I told them that's peanuts, peanuts."

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"Today I am announcing that we are going to cancel that executive action, we are going to restore the originally scheduled midterm review and we are going to ensure that any regulations we have protect and defend your jobs, your factories. We are going to be fair, going to be fair. This is an issue of deep importance to me. For decades, I have raised the alarm over unfair foreign trade practices that have robbed communities of their wealth and robbed our people of their ability to provide for their families. They've stolen our jobs, they've stolen our companies and our politicians sat back and watched. Hopeless ... not anymore."

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"I am asking all the companies here today to join us in this new industrial revolution. Let us put American workers, American families and American dreams first once again. May God bless the American worker. May God bless the Motor City and may God bless the United States of America. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you everybody."

Executives from 10 auto companies met with President Donald Trump and cabinet officials on Friday to discuss the administration's plan to reduce gas mileage and pollution requirements enacted during the Obama administration.

The auto industry wants to relax the standards, but not so much that they provoke a legal fight with California, which has power to impose its own stricter tailpipe pollution limits.

Such a fight could bring two mileage standards in the U.S., forcing automakers to engineer and produce two versions of each of their vehicle models, driving up costs.

Scott Pruitt, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA,) was also at the meeting. He has being investigated by Congressional committees for pricey taxpayer-funded travel.

After months of news reports and announcements of investigations on alleged ethical lapses, White House sources have signaled that President Donald Trump's support for his environmental chief appears to be wavering.

On Friday, however, when questioned by a reporter if he still has confidence in Pruitt, Trump replied, "Yes, I do."

He didn't respond to a follow-up question on whether Pruitt would remain in his job.

Washington - 11 May 2018

++STARTS ON SOUNDBITE++

1. SOUNDBITE: (English) President Donald Trump:

"We're working on CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards, environmental controls. We're working on how to build more cars in the United States. We have a great capacity for building. We're importing a lot of cars and we want a lot of those cars to be made in the United States. I think what we'll do just very quickly because we're represented by so much media will just run around the room real quickly and you can introduce yourself and the company will talk for a couple of minutes and we'll talk privately."

2. Guests of White House and EPA administrator Scott Pruitt introduce themselves

3. SOUNDBITE: (English) President Donald Trump:

(Reporter: ++OFF-CAMERA++ "Mr. President do you still have confidence in Administrator Pruitt?")

Yes I do, thank you.

(Reporter: ++OFF-CAMERA++ "So, he's going to stay in his job?")

"Thank you, very much everybody."

4. Mid of Pruitt

STORY

MISSION, TEXAS (AP) —As Trump arrives, South Texas fights his proposed wall

SUGGESTED CAPTION:

President Donald Trump's visit to the U.S.-Mexico border in South Texas comes as his administration fights many of the region's landowners, religious leaders, and environmentalists over the few miles of barrier it's already trying to build.

Natural Sound Up Full: Choppers circling overhead

THE BORDER WALL BATTLE IS GETTING NOISIER AND NASTIER AS PROPERTY OWNERS IN SOUTH TEXAS FACE OFF AGAINST A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INTENT ON SEIZING THEIR LAND…

LAND NEEDED FOR A PORTION OF WALL CONSTRUCTION THAT WAS APPROVED BY CONGRESS MONTHS AGO.  

THE 1.4 BILLION-DOLLAR PROJECT HAS RAISED THE IRE OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND ITS NEIGHBORS ALONG THE RIO GRANDE RIVER— AND COULD SIGNAL WHAT LIES AHEAD IF THE PRESIDENT'S PLANS FOR MORE WALL BUILDING GO THROUGH.

(CHOPPER CROSSING)

THE LA LOMITA CHAPEL— THE NAMESAKE FOR THE CITY OF MISSION, TEXAS— HAPPENS TO BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ALREADY APPROVED PATH. BUILDING COULD BEGIN AS EARLY AS FEBRUARY… IF LAWSUITS DON'T STOP IT FIRST.

(natural sound up of Father Roy showing where a wall would go)

FATHER ROY SNIPES —OFTEN DONNING A COWBOY HAT WITH HIS CRUCIFIX-   IS A CATHOLIC PRIEST IN THE OBLATE ORDER…WHICH HAS MINISTERED IN THE VALLEY SINCE THE 1840S.

SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Father Roy Snipes, La Lomita Pastor: " we're here at the old La Lomita Chapel. which is kind of the mother church of our whole area."

THE Catholic  DIOCESE DOES NOT WANT TO SELL THIS LAND OR GIVE IT UP. So it's suing the government, SAYING This VIOLATES CATHOLIC TEACHINGS, THE CHURCHES RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT MIGRANTS, AS WELL AS ITS FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.

SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Father Roy Snipes, La Lomita Pastor: ""the serenity and simplicity of the place would be ruined."

… STAND UP Super: John Mone, Associated Press: "MUCH OF THE CONSTRUCTION WILL BE LIKE THESE STEEL BALLARDS AND CONCRETE LAW ENFORCEMENT ZONES. THOUGH MANY IN THE VALLEY SAY THE PRICE OF A physical and VISUAL DETERRENT ISN'T WORTH WHAT IT WILL COST HERITAGE IF THE GOVERNMENT TAKES LAND BY EMINENT DOMAIN.

Marianna Trevino Wright, National Butterfly Center: " uncle sam is gonna impact that dramatically by eliminating all of these trees full of nests, eggs, baby birds piling them up somewhere and burning them."

AT THE NATIONAL BUTTERFLY CENTER — THE CONCERN IS WHAT A WALL  AND LAW ENFORCEMENT ZONE WILL DO MIGRATORY BIRDS AND BUTTERFLIES

Marianna Trevino Wright, National Butterfly Center: " you eliminate the plant, that is the reproductive basis for the butterfly, you eliminate the butterfly."

THE CENTER IS A NATURE PRESERVE AND TOURIST MAGNET — AND ITS ALSO SUING TO PREVENT THE GOVERNMENT FROM BUILDING HERE—

DIRECTOR MARIANA TREVINO WRIGHT SAYS THE END RESULT WILL BE A CONCRETE FEDERAL FOOTPRINT ON WILDLIFE—

(GOATS bleating on the farm)

NEARBY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY SURVEYED WHAT IT WOULD TAKE FROM THE CAVAZOS FAMILY'S 64 ACRES…

Soundbite (English) Eloisa Cavazos, Opposes Wall: "" that wall itself? it's not going to stop anything."

MANY FAMILIES LIKE THEM HAVE MULTIPLE HEIRS TO THEIR PROPERTIES SO THE TOTAL IMPACT OF LAND SEIZURES IS YET UNKNOWN.

CONSTRUCTION MAY CUT OFF ACCESS THEY HAVE TO THE WATER THEY GREW UP FISHING ON…

(NATS— Father Roy in boat, RIGHT over on that side is mexico)

THE SAME RIVER FATHER ROY USES TO BOAT TO WORK…  

SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Father Roy Snipes, La Lomita Pastor:

" for god's sake leave our chapel alone. you don't have to build a wall along this beautiful river. if you're the smartest and richest and most powerful people in the world can't you think of something better than that?

THE OBLATE MISSIONARY ALSO RENTS LAND FROM THE CAVAZOS', SO HIS OWN HOUSE AND THE COMMUNITY'S HOUSE OF WORSHIP COULD BE BEHIND A BARRIER… TOO —JOHN MONE ASSOCIATED PRESS MISSION TEXAS.

MISSION, TEXAS — JANUARY 8 2019

1. Various of DHS choppers flying over La Lomita Chapel, the Border Patrol is planning on building wall that would further bifurcate public and church property

2. Border Patrol SUV drives on the levee dividing the land

3. Choppers continue to pass

4. Pan from levee road to La Lomita Chapel land

5. Cross sitting atop church roof

HIDALGO, TEXAS — JANUARY 8 2019

6. Various of steel ballard design fence on the US-Mexico Port of Entry in Hildago, which would look similar to what will be built in Mission area

MISSION, TEXAS — JANUARY 8 2019

7. Various La Lomita, exterior

8. Various inside sanctuary

9. Natural sound up full Father Roy Snipes showing where wall would be built

10. Various inside sanctuary, prayer candles, Father Roy

11. Soundbite (English) Father Roy Snipes, La Lomita Pastor: see script

12. Various inside sanctuary

13. Various outside shrine of Our Lady and flowers

14. Soundbite (English) Father Roy Snipes, La Lomita Pastor: see script

15. Outside the building for the National Butterfly Center

16. Soundbite (English) Marianna Trevino Wright, National Butterfly Center: see script

17. Various of National Butterfly Center, wildlife, tracking shot along the interior road

18. Two butterflies share a flower

19. Soundbite (English) Marianna Trevino Wright, National Butterfly Center: see script

20. Bird on branch

21. Various of tourists making photos

22. Goats on the Cavazos farm

23. The Cavazos family during interview

24. Longhorn cattle on the farm

25. Soundbite (English) Eloisa Cavazos, Mission, Texas: see script

26. Various of Cavazos family on their river front property, fishing and talking

27. Tracking shot on the river, on top of Father roy's boat

28. Father Roy steering his boat

29. Cutaways

30 Soundbite (English) Father Roy Snipes, La Lomita Pastor: see script

31. Various of Father Roy

32. Chopper patrolling overhead

33. Zoom out from chapel

President Donald Trump has signed the massive 400 billion US dollar farm bill that reauthorises agriculture and conservation programs without making any cuts to the food stamp program.

He signed the bill Thursday, hours after the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced its intention to crack down on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by proposing a regulation to tighten work requirements for recipients of food aid.

Farm bill negotiations stalled for months over House provisions to cuts to SNAP and the Senate's unwillingness to support them.

Trump voiced strong support for stricter work requirements.

USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue said Wednesday the regulation was a tradeoff for Trump's support of the farm bill.

The bill reauthorises crop insurance and conservation programs, expands support for struggling dairy farmers and legalizes the cultivation of industrial hemp.

Washington - 20 December 2018

1. Various of US President Donald Trump signing bill

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"Now to the farm bill. We are proudly joined today by so many members of Congress, Republicans, Democrats, who worked very, very hard on this bill. This was really an effort of everybody. It was a bipartisan success. Something you don't hear too much about. But I think you will be I actually believe we maybe will be over the coming period of time I hope so. I think so. So good for the country. And I want to thank all of the people here including the many Democrats who have really worked hard on this bill. They really have probably have to deny that I ever said that someday but I won't do that because you really did. You work very very hard."

3. Ivanka Trump and others listening to Trump speak

4. Senate Majority Leader and others listening to Trump

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"Through fires, floods and freezing weather, we will always stand with the American farmers. The farm bill doubles the amount of farmers that they can borrow to expand and improve their farms. It expands and goes all over rural broadband. We are doing broadband. Everyone wanted it so badly. It's amazing how sophisticated the whole farm industry has become. But it expands rural broadband and dedicates additional resources to fight the opioid crisis-- tremendous crisis that we have it down about 18 percent. But it's just not acceptable. It's an incredible problem for our country. It opens new markets for American agriculture all over the world. In addition to signing this critical legislation today, I am directing my administration to take immediate action on welfare reform. Thanks to our thriving economy we have already lifted more than four point six million Americans off the food stamp rolls since the election and more work remains to be done."

6. Wide of Trump speaking

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"Our goal is to move these Americans from dependence to independence and into a good paying job and rewarding career. Therefore I have directed (Agriculture) Secretary (Sonny) Perdue to use his authority under the law to close work requirement loopholes in the food stamp program. Under this new rule, able bodied adults without dependents will have to work or look for work in order to receive their food stamps. Today's action will help Americans transition from welfare to gainful employment, strengthening families and uplifting communities and that was a difficult thing to get done but the farmers wanted it done. We all wanted it done and I think in the end it's going to make a lot of people very happy."

8. Crowd listening to Trump

President Donald Trump has signed the massive $400 billion farm bill that reauthorizes agriculture and conservation programs without making any cuts to the food stamp program.

He signed the bill Thursday, hours after the USDA announced its intention to crack down on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by proposing a regulation to tighten work requirements for recipients of food aid.

Farm bill negotiations stalled for months over House provisions to cuts to SNAP and the Senate's unwillingness to support them.

Trump voiced strong support for stricter work requirements.

USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue said Wednesday the regulation was a tradeoff for Trump's support of the farm bill.

The bill reauthorizes crop insurance and conservation programs, expands support for struggling dairy farmers and legalizes the cultivation of industrial hemp.

Washington - 20 December 2018

1. Various of US President Donald Trump signing bill

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"Now to the farm bill. We are proudly joined today by so many members of Congress, Republicans, Democrats, who worked very, very hard on this bill. This was really an effort of everybody. It was a bipartisan success. Something you don't hear too much about. But I think you will be I actually believe we maybe will be over the coming period of time I hope so. I think so. So good for the country. And I want to thank all of the people here including the many Democrats who have really worked hard on this bill. They really have probably have to deny that I ever said that someday but I won't do that because you really did. You work very very hard."

3. Ivanka Trump and others listening to Trump speak

4. Senate Majority Leader and others listening to Trump

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"Through fires, floods and freezing weather, we will always stand with the American farmers. The farm bill doubles the amount of farmers that they can borrow to expand and improve their farms. It expands and goes all over rural broadband. We are doing broadband. Everyone wanted it so badly. It's amazing how sophisticated the whole farm industry has become. But it expands rural broadband and dedicates additional resources to fight the opioid crisis-- tremendous crisis that we have it down about 18 percent. But it's just not acceptable. It's an incredible problem for our country. It opens new markets for American agriculture all over the world. In addition to signing this critical legislation today, I am directing my administration to take immediate action on welfare reform. Thanks to our thriving economy we have already lifted more than four point six million Americans off the food stamp rolls since the election and more work remains to be done."

6. Wide of Trump speaking

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"Our goal is to move these Americans from dependence to independence and into a good paying job and rewarding career. Therefore I have directed (Agriculture) Secretary Perdue to use his authority under the law to close work requirement loopholes in the food stamp program. Under this new rule, able bodied adults without dependents will have to work or look for work in order to receive their food stamps. Today's action will help Americans transition from welfare to gainful employment, strengthening families and uplifting communities and that was a difficult thing to get done but the farmers wanted it done. We all wanted it done and I think in the end it's going to make a lot of people very happy."

8. Crowd listening to Trump

Declaring "the start of a new era" in energy production, President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday that he said would revive the coal industry and create jobs.

The move makes good on his campaign pledge to unravel former President Barack Obama's plan to curb global warming.

The order seeks to suspend, rescind or flag for review more than a half-dozen measures in an effort to boost domestic energy production in the form of fossil fuels.

Environmental activists, including former Vice President Al Gore, denounced the plan.

But Trump said the effort would allow workers to "succeed on a level playing field for the first time in a long time."

"That is what this is all about: bringing back our jobs, bringing back our dreams and making America wealthy again," Trump said, during a ceremony at the Environmental Protection Agency headquarters, attended by a number of coal miners.

In addition to pulling back from the Clean Power Plan, the administration will also lift a 14-month-old moratorium on new coal leases on federal lands.

POOL

Washington - 28 March 2017

1. US President Donald Trump at executive order signing ceremony

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President :

"The action I'm taking today will eliminate federal overreach, restore economic freedom and allow our companies and our workers to thrive, compete and succeed on a level playing field for the first time in a long time fellas, been a long time."

3. Cutaway wide

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President :

"The miners told me about the attacks on their jobs and their livelihoods, they told me about the efforts to shut down their mines, and their communities and their very way of life. I made them this promise, we will put our miners back to work. We've already eliminated a devastating anti-coal regulation but that was just the beginning, today I'm taking bold action to follow through on that promise. My administration is putting an end to the war on coal, we're going to have clean coal, really clean coal. With today's executive action I am taking historic steps to lift the restrictions on American energy, to reverse government intrusion and to cancel job-killing regulations."

5. Cutaway wide

6. SOUNDBITE (English) President Donald Trump:

"We are lifting the ban on federal leasing for coal production, third we are lifting job-killing restrictions on the production of oil, natural gas, clean coal and shale energy. And finally we are returning power to the states, where that power belongs. States and local communities know what is best for them, they understand it, they get it, they've been doing it for a long time, it was taken away from them and not handled well and they are the ones we should now and will now empower to decide."

7. Trump signing executive order

Declaring "the start of a new era" in energy production, President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday that he said would revive the coal industry and create jobs.

The move makes good on his campaign pledge to unravel former President Barack Obama's plan to curb global warming.

The order seeks to suspend, rescind or flag for review more than a half-dozen measures in an effort to boost domestic energy production in the form of fossil fuels.

Environmental activists, including former Vice President Al Gore, denounced the plan.

But Trump said the effort would allow workers to "succeed on a level playing field for the first time in a long time."

"That is what this is all about: bringing back our jobs, bringing back our dreams and making America wealthy again," Trump said, during a ceremony at the Environmental Protection Agency headquarters, attended by a number of coal miners.

In addition to pulling back from the Clean Power Plan, the administration will also lift a 14-month-old moratorium on new coal leases on federal lands.

POOL

Washington - 28 March 2017

1. US President Donald Trump at executive order signing ceremony

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President :

"The action I'm taking today will eliminate federal overreach, restore economic freedom and allow our companies and our workers to thrive, compete and succeed on a level playing field for the first time in a long time fellas, been a long time."

3. Cutaway wide

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President :

"The miners told me about the attacks on their jobs and their livelihoods, they told me about the efforts to shut down their mines, and their communities and their very way of life. I made them this promise, we will put our miners back to work. We've already eliminated a devastating anti-coal regulation but that was just the beginning, today I'm taking bold action to follow through on that promise. My administration is putting an end to the war on coal, we're going to have clean coal, really clean coal. With today's executive action I am taking historic steps to lift the restrictions on American energy, to reverse government intrusion and to cancel job-killing regulations."

5. Cutaway wide

6. SOUNDBITE (English) President Donald Trump:

"We are lifting the ban on federal leasing for coal production, third we are lifting job-killing restrictions on the production of oil, natural gas, clean coal and shale energy. And finally we are returning power to the states, where that power belongs. States and local communities know what is best for them, they understand it, they get it, they've been doing it for a long time, it was taken away from them and not handled well and they are the ones we should now and will now empower to decide."

7. Trump signing executive order

Declaring "the start of a new era" in energy production, President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday that he said would revive the coal industry and create jobs.

The move makes good on his campaign pledge to unravel former President Barack Obama's plan to curb global warming.

The order seeks to suspend, rescind or flag for review more than a half-dozen measures in an effort to boost domestic energy production in the form of fossil fuels.

Environmental activists, including former Vice President Al Gore, denounced the plan.

But Trump said the effort would allow workers to "succeed on a level playing field for the first time in a long time."

"That is what this is all about: bringing back our jobs, bringing back our dreams and making America wealthy again," Trump said, during a ceremony at the Environmental Protection Agency headquarters, attended by a number of coal miners.

In addition to pulling back from the Clean Power Plan, the administration will also lift a 14-month-old moratorium on new coal leases on federal lands.

POOL

Washington - 28 March 2017

1. US President Donald Trump at executive order signing ceremony

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President :

"The action I'm taking today will eliminate federal overreach, restore economic freedom and allow our companies and our workers to thrive, compete and succeed on a level playing field for the first time in a long time fellas, been a long time."

3. Cutaway wide

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President :

"The miners told me about the attacks on their jobs and their livelihoods, they told me about the efforts to shut down their mines, and their communities and their very way of life. I made them this promise, we will put our miners back to work. We've already eliminated a devastating anti-coal regulation but that was just the beginning, today I'm taking bold action to follow through on that promise. My administration is putting an end to the war on coal, we're going to have clean coal, really clean coal. With today's executive action I am taking historic steps to lift the restrictions on American energy, to reverse government intrusion and to cancel job-killing regulations."

5. Cutaway wide

6. SOUNDBITE (English) President Donald Trump:

"We are lifting the ban on federal leasing for coal production, third we are lifting job-killing restrictions on the production of oil, natural gas, clean coal and shale energy. And finally we are returning power to the states, where that power belongs. States and local communities know what is best for them, they understand it, they get it, they've been doing it for a long time, it was taken away from them and not handled well and they are the ones we should now and will now empower to decide."

7. Trump signing executive order

President Donald Trump has signed the massive $400 billion farm bill that reauthorizes agriculture and conservation programs without making any cuts to the food stamp program.

He signed the bill Thursday, hours after the USDA announced its intention to crack down on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by proposing a regulation to tighten work requirements for recipients of food aid.

Farm bill negotiations stalled for months over House provisions to cuts to SNAP and the Senate's unwillingness to support them.

Trump voiced strong support for stricter work requirements.

USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue said Wednesday the regulation was a tradeoff for Trump's support of the farm bill.

The bill reauthorizes crop insurance and conservation programs, expands support for struggling dairy farmers and legalizes the cultivation of industrial hemp.

Washington - 20 December 2018

1. US President Donald Trump signing bill

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"Now to the farm bill. We are proudly joined today by so many members of Congress, Republicans, Democrats, who worked very, very hard on this bill. This was really an effort of everybody. It was a bipartisan success. Something you don't hear too much about. But I think you will be I actually believe we maybe will be over the coming period of time I hope so. I think so. So good for the country. And I want to thank all of the people here including the many Democrats who have really worked hard on this bill. They really have probably have to deny that I ever said that someday but I won't do that because you really did. You work very very hard."

3. Ivanka Trump and others listening to Trump speak (partly covers soundbite)

4. Senate Majority Leader and others listening to Trump (partly covers soundbite)

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"Through fires, floods and freezing weather, we will always stand with the American farmers. The farm bill doubles the amount of farmers that they can borrow to expand and improve their farms. It expands and goes all over rural broadband. We are doing broadband. Everyone wanted it so badly. It's amazing how sophisticated the whole farm industry has become. But it expands rural broadband and dedicates additional resources to fight the opioid crisis-- tremendous crisis that we have it down about 18 percent. But it's just not acceptable. It's an incredible problem for our country. It opens new markets for American agriculture all over the world. In addition to signing this critical legislation today, I am directing my administration to take immediate action on welfare reform. Thanks to our thriving economy we have already lifted more than four point six million Americans off the food stamp rolls since the election and more work remains to be done."

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus133318

The Trump administration is rolling back tough Obama-era mileage standards and gutting one of the United States' biggest efforts to slow climate change.

The administration released its relaxed mileage rules Tuesday.

The Obama administration mandated 5% annual increases in fuel economy, the Trump administration's proposal slows that to  a 1.5% annual increase, backing off from its initial proposal simply to stop mandating increases in fuel efficiency after 2020.

Tailpipe exhaust is a major contributor to climate changing emissions.

The Trump administration argues relaxing mileage standards will save automakers the cost of new emissions technology and make vehicles cheaper for Americans to buy. But opponents say Americans will spend far more on fuel than they save on purchase costs.

"While these are tougher standards than the proposal, they are still more realistic and achievable than the 2012 standards, which had required an approximate five percent increase in stringency per year and which the majority of car companies were already not meeting,"  Andrew Wheeler, head of the Environmental Protection Agency, said Tuesday on a teleconference call making the announcement.

Opponents contend the change — gutting his predecessor's legacy effort against climate-changing fossil fuel emissions — appears driven by Trump's push to undo regulatory initiatives of former President Barack Obama and say even the administration has had difficulty pointing to the kind of specific, demonstrable benefits to drivers, public health and safety or the economy that normally accompany standards changes.

The standards have split the auto industry with Ford, BMW, Honda and Volkswagen siding with California and agreeing to higher standards. Most other automakers contend the Obama-era standards were enacted hastily and will be impossible to meet because consumers have shifted dramatically away from efficient cars to SUVs and trucks.

California and about a dozen other states say they will continue resisting the Trump standards in court.

The acting head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, James Owens, told reporters that there was a statutory deadline to reveal the emissions standards.

"The public health crisis that the nation is facing is the administration's number one priority," he said. "We are at war with the virus and the administration is focused on that.  We are rolling this rule out today because we have a statutory deadline, we have to roll it out today by law. But we are certainly cognizant of that."

Juno Beach, Florida - 30 March 2020

1. Close view of hands putting fuel pump nozzle into car gas tank

Washington - 31 March 2020

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Elaine Chao, Secretary of Transportation: ++AUDIO ONLY, OVER GRAPHIC OF CHAO++

"The safe vehicles rule sets the next generation of fuel economy standards for our nation's new vehicles. These standards are reasonable, realistic and achievable and reflect the fact that times and technology have changed since the previous rule in 2012."

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Andrew Wheeler, EPA Administrator:  ++AUDIO ONLY, OVER GRAPHIC OF WHEELER++

"The final rule will increase the stringency of CAFE CO2 emission standards by 1.5% each year through model year 2026. This is more stringent than the 2018 proposal, which would have held the standards steady at the 2020 levels set in 2012. While these are tougher standards than the proposal, they are still more realistic and achievable than the 2012 standards, which had required an approximate five percent increase in stringency per year and which the majority of car companies were already not meeting."

4. SOUNDBITE (English) James Owens, Acting Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA): ++AUDIO ONLY, OVER GRAPHIC OF NHTSA LOGO, TRAFFIC++

"The public health crisis that the nation is facing is the administration's number one priority.  We are at war with the virus and the administration is focused on that. We are rolling this rule out today because we have a statutory deadline, we have to roll it out today by law. But we are certainly cognizant of that. But our rule is looking forward through the next decade and we are focused on the best available evidence before us as we do this modeling and this analysis and make these important and critical policy choices."

Baytown, Texas - 30 March 2020

5. Wide view of highway as truck passes toward gas station

6. Various of sign showing fuel prices