East Idaho Times

Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia) have taken a stand against the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recent finalized rule, known as “Multi-Pollutant Emissions Standards for Model Years 2027 and Later Light-Duty and Medium-Duty Vehicles.” The senators, along with 10 of their colleagues, filed an amendment to the second Fiscal Year 2024 minibus spending package to block funding for the implementation of this rule.

"The Biden Administration’s rule on tailpipe emissions sets unrealistic and unachievable standards that go too far at restricting vehicle choices for American families and pushes our country toward a greater dependence on China," expressed Senator Crapo. He further emphasized, "Idahoans deserve access to affordable, reliable vehicles of their choice. I urge the Senate to adopt this amendment."

Senator Manchin echoed similar sentiments, stating, "First, the Biden Administration tried to bribe Americans to buy EVs, and now they’re trying to mandate that we all do—years before we have a supply chain that we can rely on." He added, "While I do not oppose electric vehicles in the marketplace, I am completely against the federal government telling us what type of car or truck American families can buy. This is not the American way." Senator Manchin also highlighted, "I am proud to co-lead this bipartisan amendment with Senator Crapo to hit the brakes on this misguided rule that increases our dependence on China while weakening our economy and raises costs for American consumers."

The amendment was also supported by Senators Jim Risch, Cynthia Lummis, Mike Braun, John Barrasso, Shelley Moore Capito, Steve Daines, Pete Ricketts, Dan Sullivan, Kevin Cramer, and Mike Lee. Senator Crapo, who previously introduced the Choice in Automobile Retail Sales (CARS) Act to limit the availability of new motor vehicles based on their engine type, continues to advocate for consumer choice and affordability in the automotive industry.

This bipartisan effort aims to challenge the EPA's stringent emissions standards that would effectively create a de facto electric vehicle mandate by 2032, impacting the vehicle choices and economic burdens on American consumers.