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The Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act, authored by U.S. Rep. John Joyce, R-13th District, passed in the U.S. House of Representatives in a bipartisan vote of 222-190. The legislation, which will now go to the U.S. Senate, would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from issuing Clean Air Act waivers for state policies seeking to ban or otherwise limit the sale of internal combustion engines.
Joyce said constituents don't want another oppressive mandate that puts a radical environmental agenda and far-left special interests above individual freedoms.
"There is nothing more quintessentially American than the freedom of the open road," Joyce said. "I'm grateful to my colleagues for supporting this important legislation protecting the freedom of all Americans to drive the vehicles of their choice."
"All Americans should have the freedom to choose which vehicle makes the most sense for their particular circumstances and budgets," said Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Florida, adding the EPA should not set a precedent that will restrict options for consumers throughout the country.
"Our bill preserves consumer choice and its passage should be expedited," Bilirakis said.
In addition to Joyce and Bilirakis, U.S. Reps. Jay Obernolte, R-Calif., and Bob Latta, R-Ohio, worked together on the legislation as members of the Energy and Commerce Committee.
"Americans should be able to make choices -- and vehicle purchases -- that work best for themselves and their families," Latta said. "The state of California, however, has made it their mission to outright ban vehicles with internal combustion engines and force people to purchase more expensive electric vehicles. With today's House passage of the Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act, we are one step closer to preventing the EPA from granting California's waiver request that would set a national standard of banning gas and diesel cars."
Obernolte said people in his rural California district commute several hours to work every day, meaning electric vehicles would be both unaffordable and impractical.
EV problems are compounded by a lack of charging infrastructure, Obernolt said, stating that a market-based approach that can enable competition and improve technology in the marketplace is better than more government control.
In August 2022, the California Air Resources Board adopted its Advanced Clean Cars II regulation that would prevent the sale of gas-powered cars, trucks and SUVs by 2035 but cannot enforce the plan without a waiver from the EPA.
Currently, 17 states, including Pennsylvania, have adopted portions of California's clean air regulations.
Those states represent over 40% of the American auto market, and any electric vehicle mandate implemented by these states would constitute a de facto ban on all gas-powered and hybrid vehicle sales in the United States.