WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined U.S. Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) in introducing two Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions of disapproval to overturn the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) radical vehicle emissions standards for light and medium-duty vehicles and heavy-duty vehicles. The Biden administration continues to enact unnecessary one-size-fits-all scenarios in the name of climate change, resulting in less consumer choice and businesses struggling to comply.
“Time and time again, Joe Biden has caved to woke climate activists at the expense of the American people,” said Senator Tuberville. “This is yet another attack by the Biden administration on gas-powered vehicles, pushing Americans towards expensive EVs and taking away consumer choice. Joe Biden needs to spend less time pushing his burdensome climate agenda and instead focus on lowering prices for American families, businesses, and workers.”
Joining Senators Tuberville, Ricketts, and Sullivan in introducing the legislation to overturn the emissions rule for light and medium-duty vehicles are U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), John Boozman (R-AR), Mike Braun (R-IN), Katie 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), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Rand Paul (R-KY), James 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), J.D. Vance (R-OH), and Roger Wicker (R-MS).
Joining Senators Tuberville, Ricketts, and Sullivan in introducing legislation to overturn the emissions rule for heavy-duty vehicles are U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), John Boozman (R-AR), Mike Braun (R-IN), Katie Britt (R-AL), Ted Budd (R-NC), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Steve Daines (R-MT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), 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), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), James 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), J.D. Vance (R-OH), and Roger Wicker (R-MS).
BACKGROUND:
FOR LIGHT AND MEDIUM-DUTY VEHICLES
On March 20, the EPA released the Final Rule for Light and Medium Duty Vehicles. The onerous standards aim to reduce passenger car, light truck, and medium-duty vehicle emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG), hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter (PM2.5) but will cause more strain on businesses and consumers than the potential health benefits of reduced emissions.
The standards would phase in over vehicle model years 2027 through 2032, becoming more stringent each year. Due to this rule, EPA estimates electric vehicles (EVs) will make up approximately 67% of new light-duty vehicle sales and 46% of new medium-duty vehicle sales by model year 2032.
FOR HEAVY-DUTY VEHICLES
On March 29, the Biden Administration finalized its “Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles – Phase 3” standards. The burdensome standards aim to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) from heavy-duty vehicles, including school buses, dump trucks, delivery trucks, public utility trucks, and freight haulers, for model years 2027 through 2032. EPA’s actions essentially force 30-40 percent of all new heavy-duty trucks to be electric by 2032.
A recent report from the Clean Freight Coalition found that:
- Preparing today’s commercial vehicle fleet for electrification would require the commercial vehicle industry to invest upwards of $620 billion in charging infrastructure alone, including chargers, site infrastructure, and electric service upgrades.
- Utilities would need to invest $370 billion to upgrade their grid networks to meet the demands of just commercial vehicles.
- This nearly $1 trillion expenditure does not account for the cost of new battery-electric trucks, which according to market research can be two to three times more expensive than their diesel-powered equivalents. For example, a diesel Class 8 truck costs roughly $180,000, while a comparable battery-electric truck costs over $400,000.
READ MORE:
Tuberville Continues to Fight Biden Administration Overreach
Senate Passes Tuberville-Backed Resolution to Overturn Biden GHG Emissions Performance Measure Rule
Tuberville Demands EPA Rescind Job-Killing Air Quality Standards
