Bowling Green Today

Dr. Paul Joins Sen. Ricketts in Introducing Bipartisan Legislation to Overturn Biden’s EV Mandates

Recently, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) joined U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) in introducing bipartisan Congressional Review Act legislation in the Senate to block the Biden administration’s electric vehicle mandates. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently finalized new emissions regulations which would require up to two-thirds of new cars and nearly 40% of trucks sold in the U.S. to be electric vehicles (EVs) in eight years.

U.S. Representatives John James (R-MI-10) introduce the CRA legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“The Biden Administration’s new mandate being forced on Kentuckians is yet another Big Government power grab and a far-left fantasy,” said Dr. Paul. “This bipartisan legislation will overturn Biden’s EV mandates, protect the free market, and most importantly, not allow the government to dictate the type of car you drive.”

“President Biden’s EV mandate is delusional,” said Sen. Ricketts. “This rule will make it harder for low-income families to buy a car or rural families to get to their jobs. I promised Nebraskans I’d use every tool I have to fight this. Our bipartisan legislation will keep costs down, defend consumer choice, and protect us against becoming more dependent on the CCP.”

“Michigan is not afraid of the future, but we demand to be a part of it,” said Rep. James. “The Biden administration’s EPA tailpipe emission rule is another out-of-touch regulation that will crater the Michigan auto industry and decimate our middle-class and most vulnerable. Folks in my district simply can’t afford to spend an additional $12,000 on an expensive, unreliable EV. I’ve always said, if you want an EV, get an EV. But allowing the Biden administration to continue stifling consumer choice will only harm the American people. This is a de-facto electric vehicle mandate that will put all 77,580 manufacturing jobs in MI-10 at great risk of extinction. I am proud to lead this effort to prevent Biden’s rule from ravaging the livelihoods of thousands in Michigan and across the country.”

BACKGROUND:

Title II of the Clean Air Act (CAA) addresses transportation-based sources of air pollution emissions via the tailpipe by seeking to reduce vehicle emission, as well as fuel. Within Title II, CAA section 202 provides the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with the authority to set emission standards for new motor vehicles.

Beginning in 2010, EPA began to interpret CAA section 202 as providing the Agency authority to regulate greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions from cars and trucks. Between 2010 and the end of 2022, EPA had promulgated three rounds of GHG standards for light-duty vehicles covering model years 2012–2026, and two rounds of GHG standards for medium- and heavy-duty trucks covering model years 2014–2027.

Light and Medium Duty Vehicles Rule: On Wednesday, April 12, 2023, EPA announced the “Multi-Pollutant Emissions Standards for Model Years 2027 and Later Light-Duty and Medium Duty Vehicles,” a proposed rule to reduce emissions from light-duty and medium-duty vehicles starting with model year (MY) 2027 through MY2032. In this rule, EPA proposed multipollutant emissions standards for light-duty passenger cars and light trucks and Class 2b and 3 vehicles (“medium-duty vehicles”). EPA estimated that, due to this proposal, electric vehicles (EVs) will make up two-thirds of new vehicles by MY2032, a whopping 67% of overall vehicle production. In 2022, EVs accounted for a mere 5.8% of new cars sold in the US. The administration unveiled their finalized light and medium-duty vehicles rule March 20, 2024.

Dr. Paul was joined in cosponsoring the Ricketts/James CRA by Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Joe Manchin (D-WV), John Barrasso (R-WY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), John Boozman (R-AR), Mike Braun (R-IN), Katie Boyd Britt (R-AL), Ted Budd (R-NC), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Susan Collins (R-ME), John Cornyn (R-TX), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Steve Daines (R-MT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Josh Hawley (R-MO), John Hoeven (R-ND), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Ron Johnson (R-WI), John Kennedy (R-LA), James Lankford (R-OK), Mike Lee (R-UT), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Rand Paul (R-KY), Jim Risch (R-ID), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Rick Scott (R-FL), Tim Scott (R-SC), John Thune (R-SD), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), J.D. Vance (R-OH), and Roger Wicker (R-MS).