Bowling Green Today

U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) recently partnered with U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) to introduce bipartisan Congressional Review Act legislation in the Senate, aimed at blocking the Biden administration's electric vehicle mandates. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has 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) within eight years.

The same legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by U.S. Representative John James (R-MI-10).

"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... This is a de-facto electric vehicle mandate that will put all 77,580 manufacturing jobs in MI-10 at great risk of extinction."

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. EPA began to interpret this section as providing the Agency authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks in 2010.

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 these vehicles starting with model year (MY) 2027 through MY2032. Due to this proposal, it is estimated that electric vehicles will make up two-thirds of new vehicles by MY2032, a significant increase from the mere 5.8% of new cars sold in the US in 2022.

Dr. Paul was joined in cosponsoring the Ricketts/James CRA by numerous Senators including Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Joe Manchin (D-WV), John Barrasso (R-WY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), among others.