SE Wyoming News

U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) has joined a group of 121 members of Congress in calling for the withdrawal of the Biden Administration's proposed Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for passenger cars and light-duty trucks. The proposed standards would effectively mandate the mass production of electric vehicles (EVs) and phase out gas-powered cars and trucks.

Lummis, along with U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) and other lawmakers, sent a letter to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Deputy Administrator Sophie Shulman, expressing their concerns. In the letter, Lummis emphasized the need for individuals in Wyoming to have the freedom to choose what type of vehicle they drive, especially considering the challenges posed by the state's harsh terrain and extreme weather.

"The Biden administration's EV mandate is an unrealistic pipedream that lacks a sense of reality," said Lummis. "People in Wyoming do not drive electric vehicles because not only is the infrastructure not in place, but the batteries cannot sustain the cold temperatures in Wyoming during the winter. It is past time for people to be able to choose what kind of car they want to drive without unnecessary mandates."

Lummis has been actively opposing the Biden administration's EV agenda. In October 2023, she cosponsored the Choice in Automobile Retail Sales (CARS) Act, which aims to counter the administration's environmental agenda and executive overreach by preventing the implementation of proposed rules and regulations that limit consumer vehicle choice. She also sent a letter to Senate and House leadership in November 2023, urging them to defund the EV mandate.

Additionally, Lummis has cosponsored the Stop EV Freeloading Act, which seeks to ensure that EVs contribute to the Highway Trust Fund to support the construction and maintenance of the nation's roads and bridges.

The letter sent by Lummis and her colleagues to the NHTSA Deputy Administrator can be read [here](link to the letter).

In conclusion, Senator Cynthia Lummis is demanding the withdrawal of the Biden Administration's proposed EV mandate, stating that it is unrealistic and does not take into account the unique challenges faced by individuals in Wyoming. She believes that people should have the freedom to choose the type of vehicle they drive without unnecessary mandates. Lummis has been actively opposing the administration's EV agenda and has cosponsored legislation to counter these efforts and ensure that EVs contribute to the Highway Trust Fund.