The Senate voted on Wednesday to pass a bill reversing the Biden administration's actions mandating states to track and set reduction goals for greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles on highways. The resolution was approved in a 53-47 vote, with bipartisan support from Senators Kyrsten Sinema, Sherrod Brown, Jon Tester, and Joe Manchin joining every Republican in voting in favor.
The bill, introduced in February by Senators Kevin Cramer, Shelley Moore Capito, and Joe Manchin, aims to overturn regulations finalized by the Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in November. These regulations were part of President Biden's goal to reduce carbon emissions by 50% by 2030.
Senator Cramer criticized the FHWA for overstepping its authority by imposing performance measures on state departments of transportation and metropolitan planning organizations. He argued that the regulations were illegal and that Congress did not authorize such actions.
Following the Senate vote, the bill will now move to the House for consideration. A companion bill has been introduced by Representatives Rick Crawford and Sam Graves. However, the White House has indicated that President Biden would veto the bill if passed.
Recent court rulings have sided with a coalition of states and industry groups, striking down the FHWA regulations. Despite this setback, the FHWA remains committed to supporting the administration's climate goals of cutting carbon pollution in half by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
In response to the court decisions, an FHWA spokesperson stated that they are reviewing the rulings and determining their next steps. The resolution passed by the Senate reflects ongoing debates over federal regulations and states' rights in addressing climate change and emissions standards.
