On Thursday, a bipartisan coalition of over 130 Republican lawmakers wrote a letter to the White House, urging it to withdraw proposed regulations on tailpipe emissions that would mandate a shift to electric vehicles (EVs).
Led by Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, and Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, the Republicans contended that the regulations issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) constitute a “de facto EV mandate,” effectively phasing out traditional internal combustion engine vehicles. They directed the letter to President Biden and Shalanda Young, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, which is expected to finalize the regulations soon.
“President Biden has made his intentions clear,” Feenstra said in a statement to Fox News. “He would rather force American families — who are already facing financial hardship under the weight of inflation spurred by trillions in wasteful government spending — to buy electric vehicles to advance his Green New Deal agenda than allow folks to choose the best car or truck for their families, businesses, and farms at an affordable price.”
“This misguided decision also strengthens China while weakening our economy because the critical materials needed to manufacture electric vehicles are primarily sourced from China,” the Iowa lawmaker added. “Alongside Senator Mike Crapo, I’m proud to lead nearly 140 of my colleagues in urging President Biden to withdraw the proposed rule that would attempt to replace liquid fuels and combustion engines with unreliable and unaffordable electric vehicles.”
Feenstra further emphasized that anecdotes of Americans left stranded in the cold while waiting for their EVs to charge during winter underscore how “ridiculous” it is to mandate EVs nationwide.
Fox News added:
Overall, under the proposal, which EPA unveiled in April 2023, the White House projected that 67% of new sedan, crossover, SUV and light truck purchases would be electric by 2032. In addition, up to 50% of bus and garbage truck, 35% of short-haul freight tractor and 25% of long-haul freight tractor purchases could also be electric by then.
The White House said at the time that the tailpipe emissions proposal, which represents the most aggressive proposal of its kind ever proposed, would “accelerate the clean vehicle transition” and reduce oil imports by 20 billion barrels.
Nevertheless, the proposal has encountered broad opposition from Republicans, along with some Democrats and energy industry groups. They argue that it will diminish consumer choice, result in increased prices, and favor China, which holds a dominant position in the EV battery supply chain.
“The reality is that most Americans still prefer the internal combustion engine vehicle, and EPA’s proposed rule unnecessarily restricts consumer choice and forces expensive EVs onto Americans at a time when they can least afford it,” Feenstra, Crapo and the other Republicans noted in their letter to the administration.
“Major U.S. automakers have recently lowered their targets and pulled back planned investments in EVs due to low consumer demand and struggling EV units,” they continued. “Further, automobile dealers across the country have said EVs continue to sit unpurchased on dealership lots, despite automakers accepting massive losses and unsustainable government incentives.”
