Florida Representative Kat Cammack has joined forces with Representative Randy Feenstra (R-IA), Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID), and over 150 of their colleagues in a united effort to urge the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to rescind its recent rule mandating the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) for trucks, tractors, buses, and semi-trucks.
This decision by the Biden administration has sparked widespread concern among industry leaders, lawmakers, and American consumers alike.
The final rule, titled “Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles – Phase 3,” was published on April 22, 2024, and it aims to impose a de facto EV mandate on a wide range of commercial vehicles.
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Representative Feenstra has been outspoken in his opposition to the EPA’s mandate, emphasizing its detrimental impact on supply chains, farmers, the economy, and American families’ daily lives.
He argues that this regulation, coupled with the ongoing challenges of inflation and poor economic conditions, would lead to a significant hike in the costs of groceries, utility bills, and other essential goods that consumers rely on.
“The Biden administration’s mandate that impacts all trucks, tractors, buses, and semis would strain our supply chains, hurt our farmers, harm our economy, and increase costs for every single American. On top of inflation, poor economic conditions, and other regulations, this de facto EV mandate on our truckers, manufacturers, farmers, and dealers will hike the cost of groceries, utility bills, and everyday goods that American families rely on. It’s also a deliberate attack on liquid fuels – including homegrown Iowa biofuels – that are vital to our energy, economic, and national security,” said Rep. Feenstra.
“I’m glad that over 150 of our colleagues joined us on our mission to overturn this burdensome mandate and maintain choice for both manufacturers, truckers, and consumers alike. This rule represents yet another attempt by the Biden administration to give more power to bureaucrats in Washington, D.C., and I’m proud to lead the effort to oppose President Biden’s power grab. We must let the free market – not the heavy hand of government – work as intended,” said Feenstra.
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Furthermore, lawmakers have highlighted the potential harm this mandate could inflict on the biofuels industry, which plays a vital role in the nation’s energy, economic, and national security. They view this as a deliberate attack on liquid fuels, including the homegrown biofuels that are so crucial to America’s heartland.
The American Trucking Association (ATA) has also voiced its opposition to the EPA’s current rule, citing the limited availability of zero-emission technology, the lack of heavy-duty charging and refueling infrastructure, and the instability of the power grid.
These operational realities, according to the ATA, make the post-2030 targets set by the EPA entirely unachievable.
In response to these concerns, lawmakers have called on the EPA to withdraw the “unworkable” rule and review the targets to account for the trucking industry’s operational realities. They believe that legislative and administrative means are the most effective path to addressing the flaws in the EPA’s rule.
They view the EPA’s mandate as a deliberate attempt by the Biden administration to give more power to bureaucrats in Washington, D.C., and they are committed to opposing this perceived government overreach.
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