Legislation recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives would protect freedom of choice when purchasing vehicles.
The Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act would restrict the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from issuing waivers for regulations that ban the sale or use of new motor vehicles with internal combustion engines.
The legislation is in response to a California Air Resources Board vote in 2022 that creates new requirements favoring zero-emission vehicles such as hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, and plug-in hybrid, full battery-electric.
The move bans the sale of new internal combustion engine cars and light trucks, the lawmakers said.
California needs an EPA waiver of the Clean Air Act to proceed with the new requirements.
U.S. Reps. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), John Joyce (R-PA), Bob Latta (R-OH), and Jay Obernolte (R-CA) introduced the bill.
“California’s discriminatory waiver request would set a costly and dangerous precedent,” Joyce said. “One state should not be able to set national policy, and Americans should not be coerced into making purchases they cannot afford. Congress must immediately pass the Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act to stop this heavy-handed proposal that only takes away choices from American consumers.”
Seventeen other states are bound to follow California’s standards.