Finally, a politician who knows something about the automotive business.
I'm talking about Senator Bernie Moreno, an Ohio Republican who spent decades building the car dealership empire. That experience led him to abolish emissions rules and introduce laws that would give tax cuts to automakers.
“Because of liberal officials who want to mandate cars that Americans can drive, states like me are troubled by lots of cars filled with expensive EVs that people don't want.”
Moreno, along with several other GOP senators, introduced Bill S.711 on February 25, 2025.
Cafe Break
The bill will eliminate multiple emission standards for lightweight, medium vehicles and eliminate the next phase of the heavy-duty vehicle greenhouse gas emission standards. Abolish the average fuel economy rules for companies.
It also eliminates vehicle emission exemptions and establishes new passenger vehicle standards.
This is a faint hope for the US automotive industry, which has struggled to thrive in the face of inconsistent regulations, massive foreign competition, and auto corners, automakers and false federal policies that hurt consumers.
The Freedom of Transport Act aims to make cars more affordable by eliminating government mandates that have skyrocketed vehicle prices.
“The only winner is China.”
When introducing the bill, Moreno said: “Thanks to liberal bureaucrats who want to mandate cars that Americans can drive, states like me are troubled by cars filled with expensive EVs that people simply don't want. The only winner is China.”
Moreno says his bill will “reduce the prices of vehicles by reducing the troublesome duties that have made cars out of hand for everyday Americans, such as the EPA's “tailpipe rules” and the California zero-emission vehicle mandate.”
The bill would revoke California rules and ensure that “not only California politicians, but all Americans, have a say in the future of our country's transportation.”
He also says that the manufacturer will end the “optional” cafe fuel economy standard, which requires manufacturers to build vehicles “consumers simply don't want,” and it will provide a six-month window for their replacement, with a strict but achievable standard.
Higher wages
Automakers will also block businesses from using 200% tax credits on wages paid to U.S. automakers up to $150,000 per worker and spending money savings to buy back shares.
The deduction is limited to at least 75% of US content and producers of vehicles that have not transferred production outside the US in past tax years. To get the deduction, automakers must provide workers with health insurance, profit sharing plans, and retirement benefits, and remain neutral in their labor organization's campaigns.
The bill is co-existed by Jim Banks of Indiana, Tim Sheehee of Montana, Jim Justice of West Virginia, and three other freshman Republican senators. Supported by General Motors, Stellantis, Toyota, The National Automobile Dealers Association, Alliance for Automotive Innovation, and American Trucking Associations.
“A common sense approach”
His bill is likely to face opposition from environmental organizations who have said that fuel economy and emission standards set during the Biden administration will combat climate change and protect public health.
A statement from Toyota's executive Mark Tempurin called Moreno's bill “a common sense approach that provides regulatory predictability,” allowing the automotive industry to invest in emissions reduction technologies while providing affordable options for consumers.
“The automotive industry has been whipped up for decades by changing emissions regulations. These fluctuations have hurt auto companies, car dealers, and autoworkers, and ultimately boosted the costs of American cars.”
A statement from Mark Stanton, president and CEO of NADA Trade Group, said his group strongly supports Moreno's proposed national fuel economy standards as “achiefiable, affordable and maintains consumer vehicle choice.”
