Nashville Standard

United States Senators Bill Hagerty, Mike Crapo, and Ted Cruz, along with a group of 121 colleagues, have sent a letter to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) calling for the withdrawal of the Biden Administration's proposed Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for passenger cars and light-duty trucks. The senators argue that these proposed standards, which aim to double average fleet-wide fuel economy in less than 10 years, do not comply with federal law and would effectively mandate the mass production of electric vehicles (EVs) while phasing out gas-powered cars and trucks.

In the letter addressed to NHTSA Deputy Administrator Sophie Shulman, the senators express their concern over the administration's use of the rulemaking process to impose its climate agenda on American families. They argue that the proposed CAFE standards, combined with the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) tailpipe emissions proposal, effectively mandate EVs and pose a threat to consumer choice, U.S. businesses, energy and national security, and the American automotive industry's competitiveness.

"The proposal issued in July is mere virtue signaling for this Administration's extreme climate agenda, but it would actually have only limited impact on emissions while strengthening foreign adversaries and harming American workers and consumers," the members of Congress wrote.

The senators urge NHTSA to drop its attempt at central planning and instead present a workable proposal that complies with the law and better serves the American people.

This call to withdraw the EV mandate comes amidst a growing debate about the role of government in shaping the future of the automotive industry. While supporters of the mandate argue that it is necessary to combat climate change and promote clean energy, opponents argue that it limits consumer choice and harms the economy.

The senators' letter reflects their belief that Americans should have the freedom to choose the vehicles that best fit their needs and budgets, rather than having the federal government dictate their choices.

The letter, signed by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, highlights the concerns shared by many in Congress about the potential consequences of the proposed EV mandate. It remains to be seen how the Biden Administration and NHTSA will respond to this call for withdrawal.

The full text of the letter can be found [here](link).