U.S. Senator Katie Britt Joins Legislation to Preserve Consumer Choice in Vehicles
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), and 19 of their Republican Senate colleagues reintroduced legislation to preserve Americans’ access to affordable, reliable vehicles of their choice. The Choice in Automobile Retail Sales (CARS) Act would repeal the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tailpipe emissions rule finalized under the Biden-Harris Administration.
“Common sense has finally returned under President Trump and EPA Administrator Zeldin. Even before this rule was finalized, it was clear the previous administration’s impractical and punitive proposal would have negatively impacted hardworking Americans,” said Senator Britt. “I am proud to stand with my colleagues in ensuring consumers are able to choose the car that makes the most sense for their own individual circumstances, needs, and preferences.”
This rule is the most aggressive tailpipe emissions proposal ever crafted and a de facto mandate for mass production of electric vehicles (EVs) and phase-out of gas-powered cars and trucks. The CARS Act would further prevent future tailpipe regulations that limit the availability of new motor vehicles based on engine type.
“The rule-making process under the previous Administration pushed a radical green agenda that harmed consumer choice in the automobile industry,” said Senator Crapo. “Americans deserve to have access to affordable, reliable vehicles fueled by American-made energy products. However, the EPA’s tailpipe rule will 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.”
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, the EPA finalized a rule titled “Multi-Pollutant Emissions Standards for Model Year 2027 and Later Light-Duty and Medium-Duty Vehicles,” which sets stringent emissions standards for criteria pollutants and greenhouse gasses for these vehicles and is a de facto EV mandate. Under the rule, internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles–which still represent the overwhelming majority of new car sales–can make up no more than 30 percent of new sales by 2032.
The average price of an EV is still significantly higher than the average price of a gas-powered vehicle, even with massive government subsidies for EVs paid for by American taxpayers. EV mandates threaten to hurt everyday Americans and cost auto workers their jobs while simultaneously helping China, given that China continues to dominate the EV supply chain. In recent years, demand for EVs made up less than ten percent of new car sales.
Senator Britt also cosponsored this legislation in the 118th Congress and led similar efforts to end de facto EV mandates. Early last year, Senator Britt joined a bicameral group of her colleagues in sending a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) urging them to rescind the Biden Administration’s proposed Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for passenger cars and light-duty trucks. The Senators urged NHTSA to “stop its attempt to regulate gas-powered vehicles out of the market and force EVs onto buyers. Instead,” the Senators wrote, “NHTSA should put forward standards that preserve Americans’ freedom to choose a vehicle that best meets their needs.
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