WASHINGTON (AP) — The GOP-controlled House approved a resolution Friday that would overturn a new Biden administration rule on automobile emissions that Republicans say would force Americans to buy unaffordable electric vehicles they don't want.
The rule issued by the Environmental Protection Agency in March would impose the most ambitious standards ever in the United States to cut planet-warming emissions from passenger vehicles.
The actions come as EV sales, needed to meet the standards, have begun to slow.
While former President Donald Trump and other Republicans have lambasted the rule as an EV "mandate,'' the rule would not force all sales of EVs. Under the regulation, industry could meet the limits if 56% of new vehicle sales are electric by 2032, the EPA said. The standard also would require at least 13% plug-in hybrids or other partially electric cars by 2032, as well as more efficient gasoline-powered cars that get more miles to the gallon than cars currently on the road.
The projected EV sales rate would be a huge increase over current sales, which rose to 7.6% of new vehicles last year, up from 5.8% in 2022.
"The EPA’s latest tailpipe emissions rule is not really about reducing air pollution. It's about forcing Americans to drive electric vehicles,'' said Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Washington, the chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
She called the rule “unreasonable” and "just another example of how the Biden-Harris administration’s rush-to-green agenda is handing China the key to America’s energy future, jeopardizing our auto industry and forcing people to buy unaffordable EVs they don’t want.''
New Jersey Rep. Frank Pallone, the top Democrat on the energy panel, called the House measure “yet another Republican effort to attack the Clean Air Act and roll back commonsense air pollution protections.''
The GOP action “puts the profits of corporate polluters over the health and safety of the American people,'' Pallone said, adding that resolution is "ripped right out of Trump’s extreme Project 2025 playbook.''
Instead of focusing on funding the government, which is set to shut down at the end of this month, “Republicans are wasting time by bringing up this resolution they know has zero chance at becoming law,'' Pallone said, noting that even if the measure passes in the Democratic-controlled Senate it faces a certain veto from President Joe Biden.
"This is yet another example of Republicans failing to be serious about governing or working to implement policies that actually benefit the American people,'' Pallone said.
The House passed the measure, 215-191. Eight Democrats voted in favor, while one Republican, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, voted no.
Republican Rep. John James of Michigan, who sponsored the resolution, said the “out-of-touch regulation” would "crater the Michigan auto industry and decimate our middle-class and most vulnerable'' citizens.
“Folks in my district simply can’t afford to spend an additional $12,000 on an expensive, unreliable EV,'' James said. “Allowing the Biden-Harris administration to continue stifling consumer choice will only harm the American people.''
The EPA rule applies to model years 2027 to 2032 and would avoid more than 7 billion tons of planet-warming carbon emissions over the next three decades, providing nearly $100 billion in annual net benefits, including lower health care costs, fewer deaths and more than $60 billion in reduced annual costs for fuel, maintenance and repairs, the EPA said.
Cars and trucks make up the largest single source of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.
The new standards are designed to be technology-neutral and performance-based, EPA Administrator Michael Regan said, noting that there are “multiple pathways companies can choose to comply″ with the rule. The EPA could achieve its carbon pollution goals even if sales of battery electric vehicles are as low as 30% in 2032, as long as stringent standards for gas-powered cars are met, he said.
Biden, who has made fighting climate change a hallmark of his presidency, cited “historic progress” on his pledge that half of all new cars and trucks sold in the U.S. will be zero-emission by 2030.
“We’ll meet my goal for 2030 and race forward in the years ahead,″ Biden said when the rule was issued in March.
President Joe Biden speaks during a meeting with the members of his cabinet and first lady Jill Biden, in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — New England Patriots coach Jerod Mayo is sticking with Jacoby Brissett at quarterback.
“Everything’s always under evaluation,” Mayo said Friday morning, a day after Brissett was pulled from a 24-3 loss to the New York Jets in favor of first-round draft pick Drake Maye. “Just so I’m clear: Jacoby is still our starting quarterback until I say he’s not.”
Brissett got hit, harassed and frustrated all night by the New York Jets’ swarming defense before Maye came in for his NFL debut. Afterward, Mayo said “I don't know” who’ll be under center for New England (1-2) moving forward.
“We talk every single week that you’re competing for a job," Mayo said after the game. "We’ll get together as a coaching staff and see where it goes.”
About 12 hours later, Mayo said he would stick with the 31-year-old veteran.
“Right now, I would say it’s still status quo,” the coach said in a call with reporters. “I said it earlier: Jacoby’s still our starting quarterback, and we’ve got to be ready to support him. There are 11 guys out there on offense, so it’s everyone. So to answer your question, that’s under consideration at this time.”
Even if he starts against the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 29, Brissett is still a placeholder for Maye, who was taken No. 3 overall in the draft.
“I don’t make personnel decisions,” Brissett said. “My job is to go out there and get ready to play.”
When asked what he thought about Mayo saying he was unsure whether he might make a quarterback change, Brissett refused to fuel any speculation.
“I’m not going to overreact to something I didn’t hear,” he said. “He told me he was going in. I’m not going to argue.”
Brissett was 12 of 18 for just 98 yards and sacked five times before being pulled with 4:24 left in the game.
“I’m a big man. I can take it,” Brissett said of all the hits he took. “I always get back up. Finding ways to make plays, that’s what it comes down to. It’s football. You’re supposed to get hit. You don’t sign up for this sport to not get hit.”
Maye came in and moved the Patriots' offense down the field during their final drive. The former North Carolina star went 4 for 8 for 22 yards and was sacked twice, with the last one ending the game.
“I thought it was a good opportunity for him to go out there with the (first-team offense) and put a few drives together,” Mayo said. “We’ll watch the film and evaluate.”
Another thing for Mayo to consider is the state of the Patriots' banged-up offensive line.
Starting left tackle Vederian Lowe (knee) and left guard Sidy Sow (ankle) didn't play after both were ruled out earlier in the week. Center David Andrews (hip) and right tackle Mike Onwenu (wrist) played after being listed as questionable.
Against the Jets, left tackle Caedan Wallace — starting for Lowe — and left guard Michael Jordan — starting for Sow — didn't finish the game after being injured in the fourth quarter.
“I thought the offensive line today had a hard time,” Mayo said. “There were times early in the game when the pockets looked pretty clean. As the game went on, similar to last week (against Seattle), it started falling apart as far as the protection.”
New England was manhandled by the New York defense, and then Aaron Rodgers sliced through the Patriots for long drives throughout the night.
New York finished with 400 yards to New England’s 139 and had 27 first downs to the Patriots’ 11.
“It was bad. Bad in all phases,” Andrews said. “We didn’t play like how we wanted to play. They dictated what we wanted to do. Hats off to them. They had a good plan and played a lot better than we did tonight.”
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New York Jets linebacker Jamien Sherwood (44) reacts after sacking New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Jets linebacker Jamien Sherwood (44) sacks New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) is sacked by New York Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams (95) and defensive end Will McDonald IV (99) during the first quarter of an NFL football game, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) passes under pressure from the New York Jets during the first quarter of an NFL football game, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
