Bowling Green Today

U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) has joined U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) in introducing bipartisan Congressional Review Act legislation aimed at 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 similar legislation in the 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."

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

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

On April 12, 2023, EPA announced proposed "Multi-Pollutant Emissions Standards for Model Years 2027 and Later Light-Duty and Medium Duty Vehicles," aiming to reduce emissions starting with model year (MY) 2027 through MY2032. This proposal estimated that electric vehicles would constitute two-thirds of new vehicles by MY2032; in contrast, EVs accounted for just 5.8% of new cars sold in the U.S in 2022.

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 ), 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( ROH) , Roger Wicker(MS).

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