Lafayette Reporter

A group of lawmakers, including Senators John Kennedy (R-La.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), and Ted Cruz (R-Texas), have come together to urge the Biden administration's U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to withdraw its proposed rule regarding Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for passenger cars and light-duty trucks. The proposed rule would require automakers to more than double their average fleet-wide fuel economy in fewer than 10 years, effectively forcing American car manufacturers to produce electric vehicles (EVs) to meet the new standards.

In a letter addressed to the NHTSA, the lawmakers expressed their deep concern about the proposed CAFE standards, stating that it is yet another attempt by the Biden administration to impose its climate agenda on American families. They argue that the proposed standards, combined with the Environmental Protection Agency's distinct tailpipe emissions proposal, amount to a de facto mandate for EVs. They believe that this mandate would not only raise costs and restrict consumer choice but also harm U.S. businesses, degrade energy and national security, and give an advantage to foreign adversaries, especially China.

The lawmakers believe that the proposed rule is nothing more than virtue signaling for the administration's extreme climate agenda. They argue that it would have limited impact on emissions while strengthening foreign adversaries and harming American workers and consumers. Senator Kennedy also called on leaders to prevent the EPA from implementing its rule, which would require more than two-thirds of all vehicles sold in the U.S. to be fully electric in fewer than nine years.

The full letter can be found [here](link).

This call to withdraw the EV mandate comes amidst a growing debate over the role of electric vehicles in the future of transportation. While EVs are seen as a key component in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change, critics argue that the government should not be forcing the adoption of EVs and instead should leave it up to consumer choice. The lawmakers who signed the letter believe that the proposed rule would have far-reaching consequences and are urging the Biden administration to reconsider its position.

As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how the Biden administration will respond to this call to withdraw the EV mandate.