At the end of October, Senators John Kennedy (R-LA), Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Pete Ricketts (R-NE) introduced the Choice in Automobile Retail Sales (CARS) Act, S. 3094. This bill has a House companion bill, introduced by Representative Tim Walberg (R-MI) and Andrew Clyde (R-GA), H.R. 4468.
<span data-preserver-spaces="true">These bills would prohibit the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing a regulation concerning emissions for light-duty and medium-duty vehicles starting with model year 2027. The bills would prevent the EPA from mandating the use of specific technology in new motor vehicles or issuing rules that result in the limited availability of motor vehicles to end-use consumers based on the engine in that vehicle. Furthermore, the goal of these bills is to preserve American automobile manufacturing and protect access for American consumers to choose affordable, dependable and functional automobiles for their needs.
<span data-preserver-spaces="true">As you can see, the focus of these bills is similar to H.R. 1435 and S. 2090 Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Acts, which focus on taking away the power of individual states to prohibit the sale of internal combustion engines. California specifically, has targeted the internal combustion engine for extinction.
<span data-preserver-spaces="true">These new CARS Acts are focused directly on stopping the Federal Government and the EPA from attacks on internal combustion engines. In March, the EPA announced plans to compel over two-thirds of new vehicles to be all electric by 2032. The CARS Act blocks this action by the EPA.
<span data-preserver-spaces="true">The Motorcycle Riders Foundation supports all four bills focused on protecting the sale of internal combustion engines (H.R. 1435, H.R. 4468, S.2090 and S.3094). Whether accomplished by state bureaucrats in Sacramento or federal bureaucrats in Washington, D.C., the assault on the internal combustion engine needs to be stopped.
<span data-preserver-spaces="true">Luckily, there are legislators in Washington, D.C. who are fighting back. Here are a few quotes on the issue from three U.S. Senators.
<span data-preserver-spaces="true">Senator Kennedy (LA) said, <span data-preserver-spaces="true">“I’m proud to support the CARS Act to stop the EPA’s radical rule, which would make the American dream more expensive for millions of hardworking people in our country.<span data-preserver-spaces="true">”
<span data-preserver-spaces="true">Senator Crapo (ID) added,<span data-preserver-spaces="true"> “Americans deserve to have access to affordable, reliable vehicles fueled by American-made energy products. Consequences of rules and regulations such as these restrict consumer choice and raise costs for the average American family.”
<span data-preserver-spaces="true">Senator Ricketts (NE) concluded by stating, “<span data-preserver-spaces="true">I’ll always fight to protect Nebraskans’ ability to choose what is best for them and their families.”
<span data-preserver-spaces="true">The MRF is proud to defend the internal combustion engine. Keep your eyes peeled for a call to action on both bills. Officials in Washington, D.C. need to hear from motorcyclists about this threat to our way of life.