NE Washington News

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) spoke on the House Floor today in support of H.J. Res 136, a resolution aimed at ending the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recent tailpipe emissions rule. Her remarks emphasized opposition to what she described as an overreach by the Biden-Harris administration.

“I rise in strong support of H.J. Res. 136, led by Energy and Commerce Republican Member John James,” Rodgers stated.

Rodgers criticized the EPA's emissions rule, asserting that it is less about reducing air pollution and more about compelling Americans to adopt electric vehicles (EVs). She cited the EPA's own projections, which suggest that two-thirds of all new cars sold in the United States would need to be fully electric by 2032 under this rule.

“This unreasonable rule is just another example of how the Biden-Harris administration’s rush-to-green agenda is handing China the keys to America’s energy future, jeopardizing our auto industry, and forcing people to buy unaffordable EVs they do not want,” she said.

Rodgers pointed out that fully electric models were significantly more expensive than their gas-powered counterparts, with an average price difference of $17,326 as of May. She also noted that nearly 5,000 American car dealers had petitioned President Biden earlier this year to reconsider the EPA's strategy due to accumulating unsold EV inventory.

Additionally, she referenced J.D. Power's recent reduction in projected EV sales by 25 percent because of increased competition from gasoline-powered alternatives.

“Despite all of this,” Rodgers continued, “the Biden-Harris EPA has continued its de facto EV mandates, undeterred by the reality of what Americans actually want.”

She concluded her remarks by urging a vote in favor of H.J. Res 136: “To ensure Americans drive what vehicle best suits their needs, vote YES on H.J. Res 136 to put an end to the EPA’s unreasonable tailpipe emissions rule.”