Congressional Republicans announce resolution to overturn Biden tailpipe rule

Congressional Republicans, led by Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) and Rep. John James (R-Mich.), introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution Wednesday that would undo the Biden administration’s rules regulating tailpipe emissions.

“This is a de-facto electric vehicle mandate that will put all 77,580 manufacturing jobs in [Michigan’s 10th District] at great risk of extinction,” James said in a statement. “I am proud to lead this effort to prevent Biden’s rule from ravaging the livelihoods of thousands in Michigan and across the country.”

The Biden administration announced the proposed rule in March, intended to ensure the majority of cars and light-duty trucks sold in the U.S. are hybrid or fully electric by 2032. Electric cars comprised only 7.6 percent of total American sales last year, while the timeline established by the rule would put that figure at 56 percent by early next decade.

Former President Trump has sought to capitalize on American trepidation around electric vehicles and their potential impact on auto industry jobs, particularly in Michigan, the hub of U.S. auto manufacturing and a key battleground state in 2024. The United Auto Workers union has endorsed President Biden for reelection, but it has frequently cautioned that the process of transitioning to electric vehicles must ensure the preservation of autoworker jobs.

The Republican House majority has passed a number of CRA resolutions attempting to undo Biden administration environmental regulations. The CRA allows a simple majority of both chambers to vote to repeal a rule from the executive branch.

Several of these resolutions have gone on to pass the Democratic-majority Senate, frequently due to the support of Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), a frequent critic of the administration’s energy and environmental policies.

Thus far, Congress has passed CRAs targeting Biden rules on heavy-duty trucks, Endangered Species Act rules and a pause on tariffs on solar panel components. On Tuesday, Manchin announced he would sponsor another CRA resolution opposing a Biden rule on energy permitting reform.