WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) and 33 of his Senate colleagues introduced legislation to overturn an excessive Biden Administration regulation on heavy-duty vehicle emissions. The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) latest rule would be challenging to implement and make new, compliant trucks cost prohibitive for small business owners. 

“This regulation is once again an overreach by the Biden Administration and will put a major strain on the trucking industry,” said Senator Tillis. “This emission standard is unrealistic, burdensome, and unnecessary and I am proud to work with my colleagues to push against this rule.” 

Full text of the resolution can be found here.  

Background

The EPA finalized its rule on new emission standards for heavy duty vehicles on December 20, 2022. The rule would go into effect on March 27, 2023. 

The rule’s new standards cover nitrogen oxides (NOx) and other air pollutants including particulate matter (PM), hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide (CO). The rule would also change requirements regarding emission control systems and emission-related warranties.

The EPA estimated the technology required to meet the new rule’s standards will cost between $2,568 and $8,304 per vehicle.

Existing regulations on trucks have already resulted in a decrease in NOx emissions between 98% and 99% compared to models from the late 1990s.  

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