House of Representatives Passes Bill Blocking Biden’s EV Mandate

December 7, 2023

Yesterday, the House of Representatives took an essential first step in providing checks and balances to the executive branch. With bipartisan support, the House passed a bill prohibiting the Environmental Protection Agency from forcing regulations designed to make the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) quicker. 

Fox News reports, 

“In a 221-197 vote, the House approved the Choice in Automobile Retail Sales (CARS) Act with 216 Republicans and five Democrats voting in favor. A group of more than a dozen Republican lawmakers, led by Reps. Tim Walberg, R-Mich., and Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., introduced the legislation in July in response to the Biden administration’s tailpipe emissions regulations unveiled months earlier.”

But despite the bipartisan effort, New Mexico’s entire U.S. House delegation voted with their party on Wednesday. While 5 Democrats joined with Republicans to pass the “Choice in Automobile Retail Sales Act” New Mexico Representatives Gabe Vasquez, Melanie Stansbury, and Teresa Leger Fernandez all voted against it. 

“It’s stunning to watch New Mexico’s representatives choose party over people to force Joe Biden’s EV mandate,” said Larry Behrens, Communications Director for Power The Future. “Apparently, these representatives feel our families have an extra $60,000 in the couch cushions to afford to comply with Joe Biden’s rules. No doubt, each one of these representatives will spend 2024 campaigning for re-election in their own electric cars and not think twice about the hypocrisy.”

Even with the White House stating Biden would veto the bill. We are calling on the Senate to put it up for a vote. The bill has received bipartisan support in both chambers, and the American people deserve to know where their representatives stand on the issue.

“If Joe Biden believes EVs are so wonderful, he shouldn’t have to force us to buy them by executive fiat. Better yet, Biden can actually pledge to use EVs exclusively and end his eco hypocrisy,” said Daniel Turner, Founder and Executive Director for Power The Future. “Now that the House has done its job, the Senate should give this a fair hearing and an immediate up or down vote.”