A group of more than 30 House Republicans is introducing a resolution to overturn President Biden’s actions targeting gas-powered vehicles as part of his climate push. Led by Rep. Andrew Clyde, the resolution aims to block the strict emission standards governing gas cars finalized by the Environmental Protection Agency. The lawmakers argue that Biden’s regulations would effectively mandate electric vehicles in the country, burdening Americans with increased costs and empowering Communist China in the process. Various pro-energy and conservative groups have endorsed Clyde’s resolution, making it the first congressional action in response to Biden’s emissions standards.
The Environmental Protection Agency’s regulations will require automakers to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter in new vehicles starting from model year 2027. These rules are considered the most stringent of their kind ever finalized at the federal level, aiming to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the transportation sector by 7.2 billion metric tons over the program’s duration until 2032. Automakers will be required to increase production and sales of electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, traditional hybrids, and fuel cell vehicles to meet these regulations.
President Biden has set ambitious targets for the number of zero-emission vehicles to be sold by 2030, working closely with American automakers and autoworkers to achieve his goals. However, the EPA’s regulations have faced criticism from various state officials, Republican and Democratic lawmakers, agriculture industry groups, and energy associations. Despite an increase in sales of electric vehicles over the past few years, they remain more expensive than traditional gas-powered cars, leading to a decline in the share of Americans considering purchasing an EV according to a Gallup poll conducted in March.
Clyde’s resolution is the first formal congressional response to President Biden’s emissions standards, with endorsements from several key energy and conservative groups. The resolution seeks to overturn the regulations that would require automakers to meet strict emission standards for new vehicles starting in 2027, leading to increased production and sales of electric vehicles. These rules aim to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the transportation sector by a significant amount over the program’s duration until 2032, with automakers being required to increase production and sales of various types of zero-emission vehicles to comply.
While President Biden’s administration has emphasized the importance of transitioning to electric vehicles to combat climate change, the EPA’s regulations have faced criticism from various sectors. Despite an increase in sales of electric vehicles in recent years, they remain more expensive than traditional gas-powered cars, leading to a decline in the share of Americans considering purchasing an EV. The resolution introduced by House Republicans aims to prevent what they view as an overreach by the Biden administration, arguing that American consumers deserve the freedom to choose what type of vehicle they purchase and drive without government mandates. The resolution has garnered support from a number of energy and conservative groups, marking the first formal congressional action against Biden’s emissions standards.
