Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate and Environment Public Works (EPW) Committee, issued the below statement on voting for a resolution he and his colleagues introduced to overturn the Biden administration’s heavy-duty vehicle emissions regulations.
“We should be setting up our trucking and manufacturing sectors for success, not making them pay more or jump through new regulatory hoops. This rule will only add fuel to the inflationary fire the Biden administration continues to stoke. The Senate was right to oppose the EPA’s unnecessary and unrealistic emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles.”
Background:
Last week, Senator Cramer discussed a separate rulemaking on heavy-duty emissions standards at an Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee hearing. He used a “cart before the horse” comparison to illustrate how these regulations aim to force transitions where the technologies, infrastructure, and financial capabilities are not yet to scale.
This recent rule, which was made effective on March 27, applies to nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM), hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide (CO). It is estimated to significantly drive expenses for small business owners. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) projects compliance costs could range from $2,500 to $8,000 per vehicle, which not only hurts truck operators’ balance sheets, but also leaves consumers vulnerable to shouldering financial burdens down the line. Since 1988, the trucking industry has cut NOx emissions by more than 98%.