"The problem is, is that President Bush and the Republican leadership in the Congress have resisted attempts to increase dramatically our fuel economy standards over the last five years"

This quote by Ed Markey is referring to the lack of progress in increasing fuel economy requirements over the past 5 years. President Bush and the Republican leadership in Congress have been resistant to making any substantial modifications to the requirements, which has actually been a significant problem. This resistance has actually prevented the US from making progress in decreasing its reliance on foreign oil and lowering emissions from cars. It has likewise impeded the advancement of more effective and environmentally friendly vehicles. The lack of progress in this area has been a significant issue for the United States, and it is clear that President Bush and the Republican management in Congress require to take action to increase fuel economy requirements.