This week, House Republicans took action to push back on proposals by President Biden’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) effectively forcing consumers to drive only electric vehicles (EVs) by 2032.The EPA’s out-of-touch policies are unworkable for the Third District because of our winter weather and expansive driving distances. Furthermore, China, which holds 78 percent of the world’s EV battery cell manufacturing capacity, recently implemented export controls on raw EV battery materials. In the interest of consumer freedom and minimizing dependence on China, the federal government should reverse course on heavy handed EV mandates.
EVs not only cost more than internal combustion vehicles, making them an impractical choice for many, a study from Consumer Reports found EVs have nearly 80 percent more problems than internal combustion vehicles. In light of this, EPA must stand down and allow Americans to make the best choice of vehicle to meet their needs. By passing the bipartisan Choice in Automobile Retail Sales (CARS) Act, the House has done its part to put a stop to Biden’s radical EV push.The CARS Act was supported by every member of Nebraska’s House delegation, and I’m grateful Nebraska Sens. Fischer and Ricketts released a statement calling for Senate action on the CARS Act. Nebraska’s congressional delegation is united in our efforts to stop the Biden administration’s heavy-handed EV mandate.
The need to hold Biden’s EPA accountable also extends to its outdated choice of emissions model for renewable fuels, which currently does not reflect the full lifecycle impact of biofuels production. As the second-largest ethanol producing state, Nebraska is already a leader in providing America and the world with clean, renewable fuel. Earlier this year, I partnered with my fellow Bipartisan Biofuels Caucus co-chairs from South Dakota, Minnesota, andWisconsin to introduce a bipartisan bill requiring EPA to adopt an up-to-date, scientifically accurate emissions model that fully reflects the positive contributions of American farmers and ranchers on emissions reductions, reinforcing the competitiveness of American agriculture exports.
