Senate Rejects Legislation Against EPA’s New Emissions Rule for Cars and Small Trucks

The Senate dealt a blow to critics of the EPA’s new emissions rule for cars and small trucks on Thursday, as they rejected Finance ranking member Mike Crapo’s legislation, S. 4072, by a vote of 52-46. Despite efforts from Senators Joe Manchin, Sherrod Brown, Jon Tester, and Kyrsten Sinema to support the legislation, it fell short of the 60-vote threshold needed for passage.

Critics of the rule argue that it goes beyond what was envisioned in the Inflation Reduction Act and could lead to an accelerated adoption of electric vehicles that the grid may not be able to handle. The EPA estimates that nearly 70 percent of new cars sold by 2032 will be electric under the new rule, a statistic that has raised concerns among opponents.

Energy and Natural Resources ranking member John Barrasso criticized the push for electric vehicles, stating that the American people do not want to buy them. He accused Democrats and the EPA of being driven by a “blind faith in their climate religion” rather than facts.

The White House has threatened to veto the bill, citing concerns about limiting consumer choice, weakening energy security, perpetuating health inequities, and hindering progress on climate goals. However, supporters of the rule, like Sen. Ed Markey, argue that it is crucial for addressing climate change and moving towards an all-electric future.

The House and Senate are expected to continue to debate the EPA’s tailpipe standards, with opponents looking to use resolutions of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act to challenge the rule. Despite the setback in the Senate, the fight over emissions standards for cars and trucks is far from over.