Utah Valley Times

On May 1, 2024, a bipartisan and bicameral group of lawmakers, including U.S. Senator Mitt Romney, introduced legislation to block the Biden Administration's electric vehicle (EV) mandates. The initiative was led by Senators Pete Ricketts and Dan Sullivan, along with Representatives John James and Russ Fulcher.

Senator Romney criticized the regulations, stating, "The Biden Administration continues to roll out climate regulations that may be politically attractive, but won’t put a dent in lowering global emissions." Senator Ricketts echoed this sentiment by calling President Biden's EV mandate "delusional," emphasizing its potential negative impact on low-income and rural families.

Senator Sullivan raised concerns about the feasibility of EV technology in rural states like Alaska, where reliable transportation is crucial for survival. He highlighted the potential consequences of the mandates on hard-working families, the supply chain crisis, and the reliance on Chinese-controlled critical minerals.

The lawmakers introduced Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions to overturn the new emissions regulations, which would require a significant percentage of new cars and trucks sold in the U.S. to be EVs in the coming years. The legislators aimed to defend consumer choice, keep costs down, and prevent increased dependence on foreign entities for EV technology.

The background of the issue includes the EPA's authority under the Clean Air Act to set emission standards for vehicles, with recent rules aiming to increase the adoption of EVs in the automotive market. The finalized regulations for both light-duty and medium-duty vehicles, as well as heavy-duty vehicles, have sparked bipartisan opposition.

The introduced legislation seeks to address the concerns raised by Senator Romney, Senator Ricketts, and Senator Sullivan regarding the impact of the EV mandates on American families and the economy. The bipartisan effort aims to overturn what they perceive as detrimental regulations and advocate for alternative approaches to address environmental challenges in the transportation sector.