California should not dictate the vehicles Americans can drive

Washington, D.C. —House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) granted California a waiver for its ban on gas-powered cars. The waiver comes after the House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act, led by Rep. John Joyce (R-PA) to protect America’s automotive future.

“By granting this waiver, the Biden EPA is further proving how out of touch it is from not only the reality of what people want, but also from what is possible. Banning gas-powered cars in favor of electric vehicles, as California intends, will raise costs for Americans and compromise our grid reliability. Just this week, NERC reported that more than half of the nation is at risk of blackouts. California has already had to ask its residents to not charge EVs during blackouts—and EVs currently make up a fraction of vehicles in the state. The bottom line is that California should not dictate what types of cars that Americans drive, which is why House Republicans passed H.R. 1435. The Senate should act immediately.” 

BACKGROUND: 

In September 2023, the House passed H.R. 1435, the Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act, led by Rep. John Joyce (R-PA), with a bipartisan vote of 222-190.

• E&C Republicans Lead Passage of Bill to Stop the Bans on Gas-Powered Cars 
• Chair Rodgers: “H.R. 1435 ensures people have the option of driving practical, functional, and affordable cars” 
• June 2023: Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials Subcommittee Legislative Hearing: “Driving Affordability: Preserving People’s Freedom to Buy Affordable Vehicles and Fuel”