Bowling Green Today

On May 2, 2024, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) and U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) introduced bipartisan Congressional Review Act legislation in the Senate with the aim of blocking the Biden administration’s electric vehicle mandates. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently finalized new emissions regulations that would require up to two-thirds of new cars and nearly 40% of trucks sold in the U.S. to be electric vehicles (EVs) within eight years.

U.S. Representative John James (R-MI-10) introduced the same 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."

Title II of the Clean Air Act addresses transportation-based sources of air pollution emissions via tailpipe by seeking to reduce vehicle emission as well as fuel consumption.

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

On 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.

The bipartisan legislation was cosponsored 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) among others.