U.S. Senators and Representatives have joined forces to demand the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rescind its recent rule mandating the transition to electric or hydrogen-powered heavy-duty vehicles.
Led by Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), along with Congressman Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa), this coalition of over 150 lawmakers has issued a stern warning about the devastating impact this policy could have on the nation’s economy and way of life.
The EPA’s final rule, “Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles—Phase 3,” was published on April 22, 2024. This regulation effectively imposes a de facto electric mandate on trucks, tractors, buses, and semi-trucks, requiring manufacturers to transition their fleets to zero-emission vehicles.
Read: Majority Of Americans Approve Of Trump’s First Term More Than Biden’s, New Poll Reveals
“Our farmers and agricultural industry will be especially hurt by this new mandate. According to the latest agriculture census by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, there are 3,161,820 trucks (including pickups) on over 1.4 million farms and 3,784,743 tractors on over 1.5 million farms that would see higher equipment costs and tighter margins due to this misguided rule. These numbers also do not account for the small, independent truckers, trucking companies, and truck dealerships throughout the U.S. that will be impacted. Not only would this rule harm consumers, but it would also exacerbate consolidation by effectively forcing our small trucking companies out of business that cannot afford this hasty transition to electric or hydrogen powered trucks,” the lawmakers wrote.
“[W]e urge you to withdraw your final rule that is both unrealistic and burdensome,” the lawmakers continued. “This rule will only further increase costs for American families, businesses, and rural communities while fueling more inflation. We need to give Americans a choice in the cars and trucks that they drive, and affordability and performance for the trucking industry is paramount.”
Read: It Turns Out That Western Sanctions On Russia’s Booming Oil Industry May Be Falling Flat
The lawmakers’ efforts to challenge the EPA’s rule have garnered massive support.
In addition to Senator Britt’s cosponsorship of the “Choice in Automobile Retail Sales (CARS) Act,” Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) has introduced the “Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act” to address similar concerns.
Earlier this year, Senator Britt also joined a bicameral group of lawmakers in calling on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to rescind the Biden Administration’s proposed Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, which could effectively phase out gas-powered vehicles.
Help support the Tampa Free Press by making any small donation by clicking here.
Android Users, Click To Download The Tampa Free Press App And Never Miss A Story. Follow Us On Facebook and Twitter. Sign up for our free newsletter.