“Yeah, we definitely got the front door, good buddyMercy sake’s alive, looks like we got us a convoy”
The lyrics from C.W. McCall’s 1967 hit song “Convoy” might best describe the fight Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford and Sen. Deb Fischer of Nebraska are taking to the White House over EPA regulations on heavy-duty vehicle emissions.
The two were joined by 32 other senators including Oklahoma’s Markwayne Mullin in the introduction of legislation to overturn what they labeled as “excessive” regulations. The Senators contend the new rule would not only be a challenge to implement but make new and compliant trucks prohibitive for small business owners.
“Biden is at war against truck drivers so he can please his Green New Deal supporters,” charged Lankford in a statement.
He said the EPA’s new demands will result in higher costs for drivers and consequently higher prices for goods.
“The past few years demonstrated just how important truckers are to the supply chain. It’s now more important than ever to keep our economy moving. Supporting truckers and our supply chain is how we get back to made in America,” said Lankford.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin agreed, pointing out it will affect more than 24,000 Oklahomans who are heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers.
“This new rule will burden their livelihoods, increasing costs for the trucking industry and, in turn, increasing costs for consumers in communities who rely exclusively on trucking to deliver their freight. I stand with my colleagues in opposing this rule and pushing back against the heavy hand of the EPA,” said the Senator.
‘Cause we got a mighty convoyRockin’ through the nightYeah, we got a mighty convoyAin’t she a beautiful sight?
“In Kansas, the trucking industry is made up of small businesses, and 98 percent of all trucking companies operate 25 or fewer trucks. Under this new rule, these small businesses will take the hardest hit from this rule that requires them to spend as much as $8,304 increase per vehicle to be in compliance,” added Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall.
He said it was another inflationary policy from the Biden administration that the U.S. economy does not need.
North Dakota’s Sen. Kevin Cramer said it shows one thing.
“Once again Joe Biden’s administration is proving they don’t care who gets hurt in their quest for so-called “climate justice.”
Cramer called it overreaching and an inflexible rule that is costly and impractical.
“Our bill protects hardworking truck drivers, manufacturers, and dealers, including those in North Dakota, by rejecting these burdensome regulations,” said Sen. Cramer.
“I spent 39 years building a trucking and logistics company out of my hometown of Jasper, Indiana, so I know firsthand the impact this heavy-handed EPA rule would have. Truckers keep our country moving, so I’m proud to join my colleagues and put a stop to this bureaucratic overreach,” said Sen. Mike Braun of Indiana.
Come on and join our convoyAin’t nothin’ gonna get in our wayWe gonna roll this truckin’ convoy‘Cross the USA
Full text of the resolution can be found here.
In addition to Lankford and Fischer, the resolution was cosponsored by Senators Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Jim Risch (R-ID), John Barrasso (R-WY), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ted Budd (R-NC), Jerry Moran (R-KS), John Thune (R-SD), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Mike Braun (R-IN), Rick Scott (R-FL), John Kennedy (R-LA), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Todd Young (R-IN), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Katie Britt (R-AL), John Hoeven (R-ND), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Steve Daines (R-MT), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Rand Paul (R-KY), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Mike Lee (R-UT), and Josh Hawley (R-MO).
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 percent and 99 percent compared to models from the late 1990s.
