(Washington Examiner) The House passed a measure that would prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency from finalizing a rule imposing emission standards for certain vehicles — marking another effort by House Republicans to tackle the Biden administration’s regulations on climate and pollution.
The measure, however, faces long odds in the Senate — and is expected to be vetoed if it ever reaches the White House.
The bill, passed 221-197, moved across the House floor mainly on party lines, with five Democrats voting with Republicans to pass the measure: Reps. Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Don Davis (D-NC), Jared Golden (D-ME), Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX), and Mary Peltola (D-AK). Introduced by Reps. Tim Walberg (R-MI) and Andrew Clyde (R-GA), the measure takes aim at the Biden administration’s efforts to electrify the country’s cars, with GOP lawmakers arguing the measure is an “EV mandate” that limits consumer choice.
“Not only does this EV mandate display breathtaking government overreach into the auto industry, but it’s also unaffordable, unattainable, and unrealistic for American consumers,” Walberg said on the House floor on Wednesday.
In April, the EPA proposed a rule to set more stringent standards for light and medium-duty vehicles of model years between 2027 and 2032. GOP lawmakers wasted no time in attacking the proposed regulation, arguing that the country lacks the critical infrastructure to support more EVs on the road and that the rule would put a strain on grids. The members also asserted the regulation would be a giveaway to China, which dominates EV supply chains.
Democrats, on the other hand, contend the measure is not a technology-specific mandate but rather a performance-based regulation. During a House Rules Committee hearing on Monday to consider the bill, Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA) warned that passing the GOP bill would prevent the agency from finalizing any vehicle emissions standards in the future and could affect automobiles other than just EVs.
“H.R. 4468 would peril consumer choice and send a signal to the auto industry and the world that the U.S. wants no part of the EV industry — ceding our global clean energy leadership to our competitors, including China,” the California Democrat said during his opening remarks.
An amendment was adopted into the bill clarifying the scope of the measure, stating its provisions will only apply to regulations that were proposed or prescribed on or after Jan. 1, 2021.
