Congress: Move Forward, Not Backward, on Clean Vehicle Standards!

Photo by Robin Bell

Monday, December 4, 2023 

Speaker Mike Johnson, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Members of the House of Representatives:  

On behalf of our millions of members and supporters, we write in strong opposition to H.R. 4468, The Choice in Automobile Retail Sales Act of 2023 (Walberg, MI-5), which will soon be considered by the House of Representatives. 

H.R. 4468, The Choice in Automobile Retail Sales Act of 2023, aims to prohibit the Environmental  Protection Agency (EPA) “from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing” the Multi-Pollutant  Emissions Standards for Model Years 2027 and Later Light-Duty and Medium-Duty Vehicles, the comment period of which just ended on July 5, 2023. EPA’s proposal, which, if finalized, is expected to result in $850 billion to $1.6 trillion in benefits, is necessary to reduce harmful vehicle pollution and Congress should reject short-sighted attempts to prevent the regulation from being  enacted. The transportation sector is currently the largest source of greenhouse gases (GHGs), and passenger vehicles are responsible for over half of the transportation sector’s GHGs. In addition to setting technology-neutral greenhouse gas standards, EPA’s proposal also sets lower standards for smog-forming pollution and particulate matter emissions, which disproportionately harm vulnerable populations. These life-saving rules must be finalized.  

Rather than recognize the twin crises of unmitigated climate change and public health impacts from transportation pollution and the transition to zero-emission vehicles underway, this bill aims to stem the tide of progress towards clean air and a healthy future. We need to move forward, not backward. H.R.4468 should be rejected outright.  

Sincerely, 

Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments  

American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE)  

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America  

CALSTART 

Carolina Advocates for Climate, Health, and Equity 

Center for American Progress 

Center for Biological Diversity  

Ceres 

Clean Energy for America 

Clean Energy Works 

CleanAIRE NC 

Climate Action Campaign  

Coltura  

Conservation Law Foundation  

Dream.Org  

Earthjustice 

East Carolina University College of Nursing 

Ecology Center (of Michigan)  

Elders Climate Action  

Electric Vehicle Association  

Environmental Defense Action Fund 

Environmental Law & Policy Center  

Environmental Protection Network  

EV Charging for All Coalition  

Evergreen Action  

EVHybridNoire  

GreenLatinos 

Healthy Air and Water Colorado 

Hip Hop Caucus  

Interfaith Power & Light  

League of Conservation Voters (LCV)  

MI Air MI Health 

Moms Clean Air Force  

Mothers Out Front  

National Consumer Law Center, on behalf of our low-income clients  

National Wildlife Federation 

Natural Resources Defense Council  

North Carolina Sustainable Business Council 

Plug In America  

Public Citizen  

Reno + Sparks Chamber of Commerce 

Respiratory Health Association 

Sierra Club  

Southern Environmental Law Center  

Union of Concerned Scientists  

Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA)