WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Ted Cruz (R-TX), alongside 27 Republican colleagues, have introduced a resolution under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to nullify a recent regulation from the Biden-Harris administration that they argue will effectively ban gas-powered automobiles and force American consumers to buy electric vehicles (EVs).
The regulation, issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), is part of a broader strategy that includes a significant increase in Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) civil penalties and a new vehicle emissions rule from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Opponents of the regulation claim it will drive up car prices, limit consumer choice, and negatively impact U.S. auto workers.
“This is government overreach into our lives and into our pocketbooks,” said Senator Cassidy. “The Biden-Harris administration is using our tax dollars to subsidize cars that will be disproportionally purchased by the better off, forcing middle- and lower-income Americans to pay more. Enough!”
Senator Cruz echoed Cassidy’s sentiments, criticizing the administration’s approach as an attack on affordable gas-powered vehicles. “The Biden-Harris administration has declared war against affordable gas-powered cars,” said Cruz. “I’m leading the effort in the Senate to stop radical environmentalists from both abusing the rulemaking process and trying to force electric vehicles on consumers who do not want them.”
The disapproval resolution has garnered support from a number of Republican senators, including Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Ted Budd (R-NC), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Deb Fischer (R-NE), and others. The resolution represents a significant pushback against the administration’s environmental policies, which proponents argue are necessary for addressing climate change but critics say are overly aggressive and detrimental to the economy.
The outcome of the resolution remains uncertain, but it highlights the ongoing political battle over the future of energy and transportation in the United States.