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Today, Congressman Bob Latta’s (R-OH5) legislation, the Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act, advanced through the House Energy and Commerce Committee and now awaits consideration by the U.S. House of Representatives. Latta is co-leading the legislation with Reps. John Joyce (R-PA13), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL12), and Jay Obernolte (R-CA23).

On August 25, 2022, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) voted to place stringent new requirements on automakers that would effectively ban the sale of new internal combustion engine (ICE) cars and light trucks by 2035 in favor of so-called “zero-emission vehicles” (ZEV), like plug-in hybrid, full battery-electric, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. To proceed with its plans to ban ICE vehicles, California would need a waiver of Clean Air Act preemption provisions from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). CARB has readily admitted that this action will extend beyond its state borders, with 17 other states bound to follow California’s standards. This would constitute 40 percent of the entire nation’s new car sales.

“The federal government should not be picking winners and losers that determine which kind of cars Americans drive – whether that’s a gas and diesel car or an electric vehicle,” Latta said. “Yet, if the EPA grants California’s waiver request to ban internal combustion engine vehicles, Americans across the country will lose the ability to choose the vehicle that works best for them and their families. This is an issue of preserving the rights of the American consumer and allowing free markets to flourish, which is why I’m pleased the Energy and Commerce Committee advanced our bill today to prevent the EPA from granting this radical waiver request. I am now looking forward to seeing this bill clear its next legislative hurdle: a vote before the full U.S. House of Representatives.”

“California regulators shouldn’t have the power to determine what vehicles are sold to families in Pennsylvania,” Joyce said “One state should not be able to set national policy and Americans should not be forced into making purchases they are unable to afford. I’m proud to see the Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act pass through the Energy and Commerce Committee and look forward to its passage in the House.”

“If California bans all gas-powered vehicles, as the California Air Resources Board is attempting to do, our cost of living will increase, blackouts and brownouts will become more frequent, and commuting families in my district will suffer,” Obernolte said. “Our bill will restrict the EPA from issuing the waiver California needs to execute its proposed ban, and by doing so will ensure all American consumers have choices in their transportation options.”

“California’s proposal is another example of liberal elitists being detached from the real constraints on the energy grid and the average American consumer,” Bilirakis said. “Last summer we saw California’s energy grid struggle to meet growing energy demands, and these proposed regulations would only exacerbate that strain. With the higher-than-average cost of an EV, the average Californian might find themselves not only unable to afford a new EV, but even if they are, potentially unable to keep it reliably charged due to brown or black outs. Given that forty percent of the national market would be directly impacted by this proposal, we need to preserve the freedom all Americans have to choose which vehicle makes the most sense for their particular circumstances and budgets. The Californian elite should not be able to set a precedent that could have negative impacts on all Americans.”

Click here to watch Latta’s remarks in support of the Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act in the Energy and Commerce Committee.