Ricketts, Fischer Call on Senate to Pass Bipartisan CARS Act Following Today’s House Passage

December 6, 2023

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following passage of the Choice in Automobile Retail Sales (CARS) Act in the U.S. House of Representatives today, U.S. Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and Deb Fischer (R-NE) called for immediate Senate passage. Ricketts and Fischer are co-sponsors of the CARS Act in the Senate.

“The EPA cannot continue to pick winners and losers,” said Senator Ricketts. “This legislation ensures the Biden administration can’t prioritize their radical left agenda over affordable and reliable transportation. I’ll always fight to protect Nebraskans’ ability to choose what is best for them and their families. The Senate should pass it swiftly.”

“Mandating electric vehicles is unfair, expensive, and deeply unrealistic. The Senate should follow the House’s lead by passing the CARS Act and put the needs of Americans before climate alarmism,” said Senator Fischer.

In October, Ricketts and Fischer joined U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) to introduce the Senate versionof the CARS Act. The bill aims to counter Biden Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emissions mandates that would require two-thirds of new cars and trucks be electric in just eight years. More information about the bill is available here.

BACKGROUND: 

On April 12, 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) introduced the “Multi-Pollutant Emissions Standards for Model Year 2027 and Later Light-Duty and Medium-Duty Vehicles.” This is themost aggressive emissions standards ever released by the agency. It is a de facto mandate for the mass production of electric vehicles (EVs). This mandate would require two-thirds of all vehicles beelectric by 2032.

The average price of an EV is over $17,000 more than gas-powered vehicles. The Biden administration’s persistent advocacy for EVs raises concerns for Americans about higher costs and less choice. It also has the potential to cause a loss of jobs in the auto industry. The mandate would also increase our dependency on the Chinese Communist Party, the global supply leader for the critical minerals necessary for EV battery production. Last week, nearly 4,000 American auto dealers asked President Biden to slow down his proposed regulations. They explained EV “enthusiasm has stalled” and supply is already outpacing consumer demand.

Ricketts hosted a roundtable with policy experts and stakeholders about “The Reality of Electric Vehicles” earlier this year where experts shared about the drawbacks of the Biden administration’s emissions mandate. A digital film of the event is available here.