Congressional Republicans announce resolution to overturn Biden tailpipe rule

Congressional Republicans, led by Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) and Rep. John James (R-Mich.), on Wednesday introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to roll back the Biden administration’s emissions regulations. .

“This is a de facto electric vehicle mandate, meaning all 77,580 manufacturing jobs will go to electric vehicles. [Michigan’s 10th District] They are on the verge of extinction,” James said in a statement. “I am proud to lead this effort to prevent the Biden administration from destroying the lives of thousands of people in Michigan and across the country.”

In March, the Biden administration announced proposed rules that would ensure that by 2032, the majority of cars and light trucks sold in the United States will be hybrid or fully electric vehicles. Electric vehicles accounted for only 7.6% of total US sales last year, but once the schedule is established by the rules, that number will be 56% by the beginning of the next decade.

Former President Trump is trying to capitalize on America’s fears about electric vehicles and the jobs they bring to the auto industry, particularly in Michigan, the nation’s auto manufacturing hub and a key battleground state in 2024. The United Auto Workers union supports President Biden. But he has frequently warned that the transition process to electric vehicles requires securing jobs for auto workers.

The Republican House majority has passed a number of CRA resolutions seeking to roll back the Biden administration’s environmental regulations. The CRA allows a simple majority of both chambers to vote to repeal regulations from the executive branch.

Some of these resolutions passed the Democratic-controlled Senate thanks to support from Sen. Joe Manchin (D-Virginia), a frequent critic of the administration’s energy and environmental policies.

So far, Congress has passed the Biden rule for heavy-duty trucks, Endangered Species Act rules, and the CRA, which suspends tariffs on solar panel parts. Manchin announced Tuesday that he would support another CRA resolution opposing the Biden administration on energy reform authorizations.