U.S. SENATOR KATIE BRITT VOTES TO OVERTURN BIDEN ADMIN RULE THAT TARGETS AMERICAN TRUCKERS, HARMS CONSUMERS

WASHINGTON, D.C., April 26, 2023 – Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) today voted in favor of a formal challenge to the Biden Administration’s economically devastating rule regarding nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles.

Under a Congressional Review Act (CRA) joint resolution of disapproval, the Senate voted to block the rule on a 50-49 bipartisan basis. An identical disapproval resolution has been introduced in the House.

“Today, I voted to block the latest overly burdensome rule from the Biden Administration,” said Senator Katie Britt. “Once again, this administration is prioritizing their radical, costly Green New Deal agenda over what is best for small businesses and families in Alabama. This rule would hit local truckers the hardest, either forcing companies to purchase the expensive new models, or keep their existing, older trucks on the road, all while raising consumer prices at a time when 70% of Americans are financially stressed, supply chains are strained, and the trucking industry grapples with workforce shortages. As President Biden continues to prove how out of touch his reckless policies are with hardworking Americans, I will not stop fighting for common sense to prevail.”

In March of 2022, the Biden Administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a rule as part of their “Clean Trucks Plan” establishing new NOx emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles.  The final rule was published in January 2023 and went into effect on March 27, 2023.

This Biden Administration rule applies to new heavy-duty vehicles sold in model year 2027 and beyond, even though today’s new trucks have already reduced NOx emissions between 98% and 99% compared to the late 1990s. According to EPA, the new standards are 80% stronger relative to current rules and would also change requirements on heavy-duty engine manufacturers related to emission control systems and emissions-related warranties.

EPA estimates the technology required to meet the new rule’s standards will cost between $2,568 and $8,304 per vehicle. In Alabama, this would affect the over 125,000 trucking jobs across the state and over 31,900 trucking companies, the majority of which are small, locally owned businesses. Industry groups argue that the EPA’s cost estimates might underrepresent the total cost, as noted in a market analysis by the American Truck Dealers.

Senator Britt is an original cosponsor of the joint resolution of disapproval.

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