The House voted Friday to overturn EPA tailpipe emissions standards that Republicans say amount to a mandate for the purchase of electric vehicles.
Eight Democrats broke ranks and sided with Republicans to support the resolution, which passed 215-191. It is unlikely to become law, nullifying the standards, since the White House issued a statement of administration policy ahead of the House vote saying Biden would veto the resolution if it were approved by the Senate and made it to his desk.
Democrats who voted in favor were Reps. Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez (Texas), Jared Golden (Maine), Marcy Kaptur (Ohio), Mary Peltola (Alaska), and House Ag Committee members Yadira Caraveo of Colorado, Don Davis of North and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (Washington).
Former President Donald Trump has promised to kill the standards if he wins the White House.
The Senate rejected legislation earlier this year to prohibit EPA from spending any money to enforce the rule.
“Disapproval would generate uncertainty for the U.S. auto market and supply chains, creating risk for the more than 250,000 auto jobs added and the more than $177 billion of private sector investment in the industry announced since 2021,” the statement said. “Passage of H.J. Res. 136 would also artificially constrain consumer vehicle choice, weaken U.S. manufacturing and energy security, and harm public health.”
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EPA says the rule is technology-neutral, offering automakers a variety of ways to get to the same point. The agency estimates the rule could result in a 53% light-duty sales share for plug-in electric vehicles in 2030, including 44% battery electric and 9% plug-in hybrid electric, By 2032, that share could be 68% plug-in electric vehicles, including 56% battery electric and 13% plug-in hybrid electric. EPA says manufacturers could meet the standards with a share as low as 31% EVs by 2030.
Automakers and labor unions, which had significant input into the rulemaking process, have called the new rules challenging but achievable, but biofuel producers and corn growers are concerned that demand for ethanol would decline under the new requirements.
“The reality is that biofuels are going to be a huge part of powering our economy for 50 years," Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D. "Unfortunately, sometimes the administration has sent a contrary message, and that's actually made it hard for us to continue the pace of investment and advancement we need in biofuels. So, anytime Congress can come forward and remind everybody that biofuels are a huge part of the future, that's a good thing.”
The National Corn Growers Association applauded the vote. “The members of Congress who passed this legislation understand well that there are many different tools that we can use to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said NCGA President Harold Wolle, a Minnesota farmer. “While it could take years to realize the potential that EVs offer, ethanol is an effective part of a portfolio of options for addressing climate concerns, and it is fully available for use today.”
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Rebekah Alvey contributed to this report.
