Fischer leads GOP push to overturn EPA emissions rule impacting heavy-duty truckers

U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) on Feb. 9 led 33 of her Senate Republican colleagues – including U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-SD), John Hoeven (R-ND), and Steve Daines (R-MT) – in introducing a bipartisan resolution that would overturn a rule by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) impacting heavy-duty vehicle emissions. 

“During a period of high inflation and supply chain disruptions, the last thing this country needs is more expensive freight costs and fewer truckers,” said Sen. Fischer. “I am proud to be leading a large coalition of my colleagues to push back against the Biden administration’s obsession with excessive climate regulations.”

The EPA finalized its ‘‘Control of Air Pollution From New Motor Vehicles: Heavy-Duty Engine and Vehicle Standards’’ rule on new emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles on Dec. 20, 2022, and it is slated to go into effect on March 27. 

The rule’s new standards cover nitrogen oxides and other air pollutants, including particulate matter, hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide, and would change requirements for emission control systems and emission-related warranties, according to information provided by the lawmakers.

“The Biden administration is saddling the trucking industry with an onerous regulation that would jack up vehicle costs and hurt good-paying jobs,” Sen. Fischer said. “This aggressive EPA rule – which will hit mom and pop truck operations the hardest – is also ineffective because it incentivizes operators to keep using older, higher-emitting trucks for longer.”

Sen. Fischer sponsored Senate Joint Resolution (S.J.Res.) 11 to provide for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5 of the United States Code of the EPA’s rule, according to the text of the resolution.

“The EPA’s new overreaching emissions rule will further strain the supply chain and put critical trucking jobs throughout Montana in jeopardy,” Sen. Daines said. “I’m joining my colleagues in pushing back on President Biden’s woke, green army of unelected Washington bureaucrats taking aim at our Montana way of life with more ridiculous regulatory nonsense.”

Sen. Hoeven pointed out that by increasing costs on the trucking industry, the EPA’s rule would make it harder to replace older trucks with newer models that have reduced emissions. “Our resolution would repeal this misguided regulation, protecting our nation’s supply chain and U.S. consumers from even higher costs,” he said.

“I’m proud to join my colleagues in standing up to the EPA for imposing yet another onerous requirement on truckers, which would increase the price of goods at a time when inflation is already hitting American consumers in their pocketbooks,” said Sen. Thune.

Sen. Rounds slammed the Biden administration for such “rash decisions” that he says have hurt the nation’s economy. 

“We should be working on policies to help our producers and consumers, not hurt them,” said Sen. Rounds. “It is crucial the Biden administration’s ruling is reversed to ease the burden on trucking businesses and consumers alike.”

In addition to these lawmakers, the joint resolution was cosponsored by U.S. Sens. Joni Ernst (R-IA), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Todd Young (R-IN), and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN).

Clark Freight Lines of Pasadena, Texas, and the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association endorsed the legislation.