The GOP-controlled House passed a resolution on Friday aimed at overturning a new rule issued by the Biden administration regarding automobile emissions. Republicans argue that the rule, set by the Environmental Protection Agency in March, would compel Americans to purchase expensive electric vehicles against their preferences.
The EPA's rule, considered the most ambitious in the U.S. to reduce emissions from passenger vehicles, would require significant increases in electric vehicle sales to meet the standards. The regulation stipulates that 56% of new vehicle sales should be electric by 2032, with an additional 13% for plug-in hybrids or other partially electric cars. The remaining vehicles would need to be more fuel-efficient gasoline-powered cars.
While critics, including former President Donald Trump, have labeled the rule as an electric vehicle 'mandate,' the EPA clarified that it does not mandate all sales to be electric. Current electric vehicle sales stand at 7.6% of new vehicles, up from 5.8% in 2022.
Opponents of the rule, such as Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, argue that it is part of the Biden administration's push for electric vehicles, which they claim could jeopardize the auto industry and force consumers to buy unaffordable EVs. On the other hand, supporters, like Rep. Frank Pallone, view the resolution as an attack on air pollution protections.
The EPA estimates that the rule, covering model years 2027 to 2032, could prevent over 7 billion tons of carbon emissions and yield significant economic benefits, including lower healthcare costs and reduced fuel expenses. The standards are designed to be technology-neutral, allowing companies flexibility in compliance.
President Biden, who has prioritized climate change initiatives, hailed the rule as a step towards his goal of having half of all new vehicles sold in the U.S. be zero-emission by 2030. The resolution, passed by the House, faces uncertainty in the Senate and a likely veto from President Biden.
