when this was all being debated he told congress that year the clean air act of 1970 in his words would, quote, prevent the continued production of automobiles in the united states. he said the clean air act of 1970 is a threat to the entire american economy and to every person in america. the american automobile manufacturers association told the senate that year that bill would simply end the production of cars in the united states. manufacturers, quote, would be forced to shut down. frankly it's a miracle that there were still american cars by then anyway since four years earlier in 1966 when congress had passed a seat belt law, henry ford ii of, yes, that ford motor company, henry ford ii told congress in 1966 that if they enacted this new seat belt law, quote, we he'll have to close down. needless to say the seat belt law passed and ford did not have