Scott Joins Crapo, Ricketts in Pushing Back on Radical Electric Vehicle Mandate

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) joined Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) and 29 of his Senate colleagues in introducing the Choice in Automobile Retail Sales (CARS) Act to counter the Biden administration’s radical environmental agenda and executive overreach by preventing the implementation of a proposed rule and other regulations that seek to limit consumer vehicle choice.

“The latest radical regulation from the Biden administration’s EPA makes it harder for Americans to afford their own car, pushing the American Dream out of reach for too many across our country. Time and time again, the EPA has shown us it wants to control every part of our lives, right down to what we drive,” said Senator Scott. “That’s not right. It’s time to put an end to this and protect Americans from Washington bureaucrats.”

“Once again, the Biden Administration’s rule-making process is being used to push a radical green agenda and pick winners and losers,” said Senator Crapo.  “Americans deserve to have access to affordable, reliable vehicles fueled by American-made energy products.  However, the Biden EPA’s rule change would hurt everyday Americans while simultaneously helping China.  Consequences of rules and regulations such as these restrict consumer choice and raise costs for the average American family.”

“The EPA cannot continue to pick winners and losers,” said Senator Ricketts.  “This legislation ensures the Biden administration can’t prioritize their radical left agenda over affordable and reliable internal combustion engines.  I’ll always fight to protect Nebraskans’ ability to choose what is best for them and their families.”

Representative Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.  

“The Biden administration is willingly ceding American auto leadership to China by pursuing this misguided mandate,” said Representative Walberg. “Many American families would simply be priced out of the auto market due to these quotas. On top of those issues, American manufacturing jobs will also be lost due to this government-mandated transition. We must block this rule and allow consumers and innovators to shape the future rather than bureaucrats. I look forward to my continued work with Senator Crapo as we fight for American auto leadership and consumer choice.”

Summary of the Choice in Automobile Retail Sales (CARS) Act:

• Prohibits the EPA from finalizing, implementing or enforcing its proposed emissions rule;
• Prohibits the use of authority under the Clean Air Act to issue regulations that mandate the use of any specific technology or that limit the availability of new motor vehicles based on that vehicle’s engine type.  This includes any regulation prescribed on or after January 1, 2021;
• Requires the EPA to update any regulations since January 1, 2021, that result in the limited availability of new vehicles based on that vehicle’s engine within two years; and
• Ends the EPA’s radical agenda, which is driving up costs for people and handing the keys of America’s auto industry to China. 

Read full text of the bill here.

BACKGROUND

In April, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a draft rule titled “Multi-Pollutant Emissions Standards for Model Year 2027 and Later Light-Duty and Medium-Duty Vehicles,” which sets the most stringent tailpipe emissions standards ever crafted and creates a de facto mandate for mass production of electric vehicles. The EPA has projected that, if finalized, over two-thirds of all new vehicles could be electric by 2032. The average price of an EV is over $17,000 more than the average price of a gas-powered vehicle, according to data from Kelley Blue Book.