WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., today announced their support for legislation to overturn an excessive Biden administration regulation on heavy-duty vehicle emissions.

Wicker and Hyde-Smith are among 33 cosponsors of a Congressional Review Act resolution of disapproval (S.J.Res.11) introduced by U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) that would overturn a far-reaching Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule imposing tougher standards for heavy-duty vehicle emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and other air pollutants.

“The Biden Administration’s misguided ‘green’ crusade knows no bounds.  The last thing American consumers need is another onerous regulation that will raise prices and crush our supply chain,” Wicker said.  “Senate Republicans will continue fighting this Administration’s power grabs.”

“Here we go again.  The new EPA heavy-duty vehicle emissions rule again demonstrates the Biden administration’s complete willingness to bring the heavy hand of government down on industry, in this case on the trucking industry that keeps our economy moving.  What’s even scarier than imposing new rules on everything from heavy-duty pickups to semis is the fact the EPA is already working on more restrictive rules,” Hyde-Smith said.   “I fully support Senator Fischer’s fight to stop this gross government overreach.”

The costly new EPA standards apply to engines used in a broad spectrum of heavy-duty vehicles, including trucks from Class 2b (i.e. Ford F-250) through Class 8 (i.e. semitruck).  The rule is scheduled to go into effect on March 27, 2023.  The rule was finalized despite the fact that existing regulations on trucks have already decreased NOx emissions between 98 percent and 99 percent compared to models built in the late 1990s.

Truck organizations and manufacturers oppose the new standards because they would be difficult to implement, outpace available technology, and make new, compliant trucks cost prohibitive for small business owners.  The EPA estimated the technology required to meet the new rule’s standards will cost between $2,568 and $8,304 per vehicle.

Read a copy of the resolution here.