WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, joined his colleagues in introducing the Choice in Automobile Retail Sales (CARS) Act, which would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) de facto mandate of electric vehicles.

The proposed rules, announced by the EPA in April 2023, would set emissions standards at the strictest level ever for criteria pollutants and greenhouse gasses for light-duty and medium-duty vehicles. If implemented, the EPA projects electric vehicles could account for 67% of new light-duty vehicle sales and 46% of new medium-duty vehicle sales in MY 2032.

“The Biden administration’s climate zealots are intent on forcing unrealistic, expensive regulations on Americans designed to change the most basic facets of life, even the type of car they can buy,” said Senator Cramer. “It’s absurd to think this somehow benefits middle-class Americans, who are already feeling the squeeze of “Bidenflation” on their wallets. Not to mention, EVs barely work in the cold and lack the range to traverse a large, rural state like North Dakota. We need to put a stop to this forced and dangerous agenda by prohibiting the EPA from any further attempts to mandate EVs.”

“The EPA’s proposal to essentially ban two-thirds of the vehicles North Dakotans currently drive will result in less consumer choice and higher vehicle prices. North Dakota franchise dealers strongly support this legislation and thank Sen. Cramer for being on the side of hard working people who need affordable, reliable private transportation to earn a living or raise a family,” said Matthew Larsgaard, President of the Automobile Dealers Association of North Dakota.

Additional cosponsors include U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Jim Risch (R-ID), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Katie Britt (R-AL), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Rick Scott (R-FL), Ted Budd (R-NC), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Mike Lee (R-UT), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Roger Wicker (R-MS), John Barrasso (R-WY), John Boozman (R-AR), Steve Daines (R-MT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), John Kennedy (R-LA), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Tim Scott (R-SC), John Hoeven (R-ND), Mike Braun (R-IN) and Ted Cruz (R-TX).

Click here to view the bill.