By the SEMA D.C. office
The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee's Environment, Manufacturing
and Critical Minerals Subcommittee held a hearing on H.R. 1435, the "Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act," a bill designed to protect Americans' right to choose the technology that powers their motor vehicles. Meantime, U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), the co-chair of the Congressional Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus, introduced S. 2090, a Senate companion bill to H.R. 1435. SEMA strongly supports both bills, which prohibit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from issuing a waiver for regulations that would ban the sale or use of new motor vehicles with internal combustion engines (ICE) by 2035. The bills are essential to stopping California's plan to ban new ICE vehicles, which requires the EPA to waive provisions in the Clean Air Act in order for the mandate to go into effect.
"SEMA believes that vehicle owners should not be directed toward a specific technology, but rather be allowed to choose the type of vehicle that best serves them," said SEMA President and CEO Mike Spagnola. "The automotive aftermarket has a forward-looking vision that embraces new technology to make vehicles cleaner and more efficient, which includes hydrogen, electric, alternative fuels and continuing to improve the internal-combustion engine (ICE). SEMA thanks Sen. Mullin for introducing this important bill and is encouraged to see the Energy and Commerce Committee conduct a hearing on the legislation."
Restricting the EPA's waiver to California's ICE ban is important because if the regulation is allowed to take effect, it could lead to 17 other states that follow all or part of California's previous clean-car rules to do the same. California requires 35% of new cars, SUVs and small trucks sold to be zero-emissions starting in 2026, increasing to 68% in 2030 and 100% in 2035. In 2022, zero-emissions vehicles made up about 16% of new cars sold in California. The rule also sets durability, warranty and other provisions on zero-emissions vehicles. However, the rule does not impact the sale or use of used diesel- or gas-powered vehicles already on the road.
Click here to send a letter to your U.S. Senator that asks them to support the Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act by cosponsoring the bill.
For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.