Great Lakes Wire

Timothy Lee Walberg, the representative for Michigan's 5th Congressional District, said that California’s electric vehicle (EV) mandate functions as a national ban on internal combustion vehicles, necessitating congressional intervention to restore consumer choice.

"The future of the automotive industry should not be dictated by excessive regulations by California bureaucrats," said Lee Walberg, U.S. Representative of Michigan's 5th Congressional District (R). "California's waiver constitutes a de facto national internal combustion vehicle ban. Automakers will be forced to conform their entire vehicle fleets to meet these extreme regulations. House Republicans are taking action to reverse this misguided EV mandate."

According to Reuters, on May 1, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to block California's initiative to phase out the sale of gasoline-only vehicles by 2035. This policy has already been adopted by 11 other states and affects approximately 40% of the U.S. auto market. The legislation seeks to repeal a waiver granted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) during President Biden’s administration, which permitted California to require that at least 80% of new cars be electric by 2035. Major automakers and the Alliance for Automotive Innovation supported the House decision, describing the rules as unfeasible and cautioning about potential economic and manufacturing repercussions.

The Congressional Budget Office reported that expanding EV adoption nationwide would necessitate substantial investments in battery minerals, grid capacity, and charging infrastructure. A complete transition to zero-emission vehicle mandates could increase near-term production costs for automakers and strain supply chains for critical materials. These factors are currently under review in legislative proposals assessing federal and state-level mandates.

According to the Congressional Western Caucus, recent House resolutions aim to overturn EPA waivers allowing California to enforce vehicle and truck regulations stricter than federal standards. The measures focus on the Advanced Clean Cars II rule and the Heavy-Duty Omnibus Low-NOx rule, both of which significantly modify vehicle emission requirements nationwide. Critics argue these waivers effectively enable California regulators to set transportation policy for the entire country.

Walberg represents Michigan’s 5th Congressional District and is a prominent figure on energy, commerce, and labor issues in the U.S. House of Representatives. Serving on the Energy and Commerce Committee, he advocates for limited government, free-market solutions, and American energy independence. A former pastor and state legislator, Walberg resides in Tipton, Michigan.