Rule places burdensome requirements cities and states
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), U.S. Representative Rick Crawford (R-AR-01), and 44 other Senators in introducing a bicameral, bipartisan Congressional Review Act (CRA) Joint Resolution to nullify a rule from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) that imposes greenhouse gas emissions performance measures on state departments of transportation and metropolitan planning organizations.
“Once again Biden’s Department of Transportation (DOT) is prioritizing climate activists over the needs of the American people. DOT’s rule is not functional or practical for Alabama or other rural states, yet the Administration continues to push one-size-fits-all regulations that burden our states and citizens,” said Senator Tuberville.
This unnecessary rule will require state DOTs and metropolitan planning organizations to set declining targets for greenhouse gas emissions on the National Highway System. Many states, particularly rural states like Alabama, have criticized the proposal as an undue burden and impractical in areas where traffic congestion and emissions are already scarce. Furthermore, Congress has not provided the Department of Transportation (DOT) with any statutory authority to implement this proposal as the authority was intentionally struck from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) before enactment by the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee.
In 2018, the Trump administration repealed an Obama administration 2017 FHWA rule after reconsidering the legal authority under which it was publicized. Unsurprisingly, the new FHWA rule resembles the 2017 Obama administration rule. A majority of state DOTs and attorneys general, including Alabama’s Attorney General, have raised concerns about the feasibility of the rule, which is another example of the Biden administration’s overreach that imposes unlawful burdens on the American people.
Other co-sponsors of the resolution include U.S. Senators Mitch McConnell (R-KY), John Thune (R-SD), John Hoeven (R-ND), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Ted Budd (R-NC), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), John Cornyn (R-TX), John Barrasso (R-WY), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Mike Braun (R-IN), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Steve Daines (R-MT), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Mike Lee (R-UT), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), John Boozman (R-AR), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Jim Risch (R-ID), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Marco Rubio (R-FL), James Lankford (R-OK), Tim Scott (R-SC), Rick Scott (R-FL), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Susan Collins (R-ME), Katie Boyd Britt (R-AL), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), John Kennedy (R-LA), Todd Young (R-IN), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Mitt Romney (R-UT), and Josh Hawley (R-MO).
BACKGROUND
Coach Tuberville believes Joe Biden’s overregulation of American energy is driving up prices and killing jobs. Coach Tuberville supports an all-of-the-above approach to American energy, including increasing the use of environmentally-safe and affordable nuclear energy.
Earlier this month, Coach Tuberville delivered a floor speech about the importance of the United States embracing nuclear energy.
In a letter, Coach Tuberville joined his colleagues in requesting Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator, Michael Regan, withdraw the Clean Power Plan 2.0 proposed rule.
Coach Tuberville joined his colleagues in a bipartisan letter to Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Jennifer Granholm, raising their concern about a proposed rule by the DOE that increases efficiency standards on distribution transformers – critical grid products – at a time when the availability of essential grid components remains a significant challenge for the electric power industry, and while the industry is struggling due to a substantial increase in demand, supply chain issues, and skilled workforce shortage.
Coach Tuberville also submitted a comment to Secretary Granholm opposing the Administration’s proposed rule to disrupt production of critical distribution transformers, which would inhibit electric utilities’ ability to meet their customers’ needs.
In a floor speech, Coach rejected climate hysteria and encouraged clean domestic energy production.
In 2022, Coach Tuberville introduced the Thorium Energy Security Act to prevent the destruction of Uranium 233 (U-233), a critical element used to produce clean energy.
In another floor speech, Coach Tuberville spoke about the hypocrisy of Left-wing climate activists and the dangers of the energy shortage created by President Biden’s attack on fossil fuels.
Coach also introduced the American Energy Independence Act of 2022, which reverses President Biden’s shutdown of the American energy sector and would return American energy to full production.
Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, and HELP Committees.
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