During remarks on the Senate floor Thursday, Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) spoke about her bill to overturn California's regulation on truck emissions.
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00:00Today, the United States Senate voted on and passed my resolution to overturn the EPA's waiver for California's Advanced Clean Trucks Act.
00:10First of all, I'd like to thank my friend and colleague, Chairman Capito, for her strong leadership and work on this very important issue.
00:20This heavy-handed regulation imposes unrealistic emissions requirements for heavy-duty trucks and heavy-duty diesel engines.
00:32This government mandate handed down to vehicle manufacturers demand that they sell zero-emission trucks at an increased rate from 2024 to 2035.
00:45We aren't under any illusions as to what this means.
00:51We know that the goal is to effectively end the sale of internal combustion engines.
00:59Now, I'm not here today to disparage electric vehicles, and I'm certainly not here to discourage the manufacturing and the purchasing of EVs either.
01:10What I am concerned about is the federal government dictating which cars and which trucks are acceptable and which are not.
01:22If Americans want to drive an electric or a hybrid car, that's fine.
01:29However, the government should not pick winners and losers in the vehicle marketplace.
01:37Mr. President, I believe in the power of America's free markets, and I believe we should allow the markets to determine the viability of clean trucks.
01:50Here's the truth.
01:52This California waiver and subsequent regulation is simply not based in reality, and it would have had a real-world consequence on us.
02:05By requiring truckers to meet California's standards, even while working outside of the state, operator costs increase, fleet upgrades would be impacted, and interstate commerce would be disrupted,
02:23and American consumers would bear the brunt of increased costs.
02:31Hard-working families are already dealing with the high cost of everyday goods and services, and they cannot afford this regulation.
02:41Let me be clear.
02:43This action is necessary to stop one state from dictating emission policies for the entire country.
02:51Prior to this waiver being granted, California's own Air Resources Board readily admitted this action would extend beyond its own state borders,
03:03and several states have already followed suit.
03:07I'd also like to address the eligibility of Congress disapproving rules.
03:13A few weeks ago, I questioned the Government Accountability Office Comptroller during an Appropriations Subcommittee hearing.
03:23The Comptroller explicitly stated that GAO's role is just an advisory one,
03:32and that it is up to us, it is up to Congress, to determine what constitutes a rule.
03:39Again, let me be clear, we are reclaiming our congressional authority under the Congressional Review Act.
03:50I am proud that this body passed my resolution, which is a common-sense step to keep government overreach at bay,
04:01protect consumers, and support America's free markets.
04:05With the passage of the House version of this resolution, and now with the passage of the Senate's version today,
04:14it will head to the President's desk to be signed into law.
04:19Thank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor.