U.S. Reps. Bob Latta (R-OH) and John Joyce (R-PA) on March 8 led almost 60 of their Republican colleagues in introducing legislation that aims to preserve consumer choice and maintain competition in the automotive markets by ensuring Americans have access to reliable and affordable vehicles.
“I am pleased to help lead this effort in Congress… to help preserve Americans’ choices when it comes to deciding which vehicle they want — and can afford — to drive,” Rep. Latta said.
The Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act, H.R. 1435, which is sponsored by Rep. Joyce alongside original cosponsors Rep. Latta, would restrict the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from issuing any waiver for new regulations that would ban the sale or use of new motor vehicles with internal combustion engines (ICEs).
The bill follows action in August 2022 by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), which approved new requirements on automakers that would effectively ban the sale of new ICE cars and light trucks by 2035 in favor of so-called zero-emission vehicles, like plug-in hybrid, full battery-electric, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, according to information provided by the lawmakers.
To institute its plan, California would need a waiver of Clean Air Act preemption provisions from the EPA, and CARB has said that this action would extend into other states, impacting nationwide car sales, the information says.
“California’s discriminatory waiver request would set a costly and dangerous precedent,” Rep. Joyce said. “One state should not be able to set national policy and Americans should not be coerced into making purchases they cannot afford. Congress must immediately pass the Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act to stop this heavy-handed proposal that only takes away choices from American consumers.”
“We have seen time and time again that heavy-handed government intervention — like California’s proposal to ban internal combustion engine vehicles — limits consumer choice and infringes upon Americans’ freedoms when choosing what’s best for themselves and their families,” added Rep. Latta. “California’s misguided proposal will have ramifications that go well beyond its own borders and would make it more difficult for Americans to get to work, drop their kids off at school, and travel to visit loved ones.”
Another original cosponsor of the bill, U.S. Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-CA), noted that in his rural California district electric vehicles are both impractical and unaffordable. “We need a market-based approach that will enable continued competition in the marketplace and push electric vehicles to be better and more affordable while enabling people to make their own choices about what type of car to drive,” Rep. Obernolte said.
H.R. 1435 has been referred for consideration to the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee.