WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) has announced his support for several bills aimed at repealing electric vehicle (EV) regulations established under the Biden Administration. Crapo argues that the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recent rules act as de facto EV mandates, limiting consumer options and increasing reliance on foreign resources.
Crapo is leading the reintroduction of the Choice in Automobile Retail Sales (CARS) Act, which seeks to overturn the EPA’s finalized tailpipe emissions rule. According to Crapo, the regulation would effectively push the mass production of electric vehicles while phasing out gas-powered options, potentially affecting vehicle affordability and accessibility, especially in rural areas like Idaho.
“Idahoans deserve access to affordable, reliable vehicles fueled by American-made energy products,” Crapo said in a statement. “We should block any efforts that restrict affordable choice for families and push our country toward greater dependence on China.”
In addition to the CARS Act, Crapo is co-sponsoring three related bills:
- Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act, introduced by Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), aims to block the EPA’s Advanced Clean Cars II rule, which sets a target to phase out the sale of new gas-powered vehicles by 2035.
- Freedom to Haul Act, led by Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), would prevent implementation of the EPA’s proposed “Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles-Phase 3,” which critics say impose unrealistic expectations on the trucking industry.
- Stop California from Advancing Regulatory Burdens (CARB) Act, spearheaded by Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), seeks to revoke the EPA’s Clean Air Act waivers that allow California and other states to set more stringent emissions standards than the federal government.
Supporters of these bills argue the current EPA regulations could drive up costs, limit consumer freedom, and place logistical burdens on industries like transportation and agriculture. Critics of the proposed legislation say repealing emissions standards could hinder progress toward national climate goals and reduce investment in emerging technologies.
Each of the bills is currently under consideration in the U.S. Senate.