SAN FRANCISCO - One of Bay Area's most junior politicians, District Attorney Kamala Harris, joined with one of state's longest serving veterans, U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, in urging Congress to force American automakers to produce cars that emit lower emissions and get better mileage - or forego any federal bailout cash.

In separate letters, the women urged Congress to require the Big Three automakers to agree to stop lobbying against California's cutting-edge emission and mileage standards or risk not getting any federal bailout money.

Harris, who recently announced plans to run for Attorney General in 2010, said:

"Now is the time for the auto industry to drop their opposition to the State of California exercising its prerogative of 40 years to establish stricter greenhouse gas standards than those required by federal law and begin to embrace low emissions standards which the people of this country are rightly demanding.  The automakers aren't the only ones needing a bailout - the people breathing our air need a bailout from pollution."

"In 2005, our state applied for the authority to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but has been fought at every turn by the automobile industry.  If this industry is serious about changing their ways, there is no better way to show their willingness to "turn a new leaf," than by agreeing to cooperate with California and other states, seeking to put the brakes on global warming."

Feinstein, California's senior U.S. senator and a potential 2010 gubernatorial candidate, agreed with her young Democratic colleague in this statement:

"In recent letters both to you and the chief executives of America's Big Three automakers, we have expressed our interest in the suspension of any efforts to oppose states' work to adopt and enforce the California greenhouse gas emission standards.  As you know, these standards not only will reduce harmful emissions but also result in fuel efficiency that will surpass federal CAFE standards - thereby reducing pollution and our dependence on foreign oil," wrote with Florida Sen. Bill Nelson.

"We recommend, and would wholeheartedly support, language in the pending automakers' bailout bill that would prohibit the industry from using any funds for litigation and/or advocacy against states' efforts to either adopt or enforce the California greenhouse gas emission standards."