Today, the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on the Environment held a legislative hearing to discuss legislation to reverse burdensome regulations that led to higher costs for American consumers. The committee examined the Choice in Automobile Retail Sales (CARS) Act, introduced by Congressman Tim Walberg (MI-05).

"I was glad to see the Subcommittee on the Environment consider my legislation to ensure that future regulations do not harm our auto industry and limit consumer choice," said Rep. Walberg. "The CARS Act would put consumers back in the driver's seat and allow the future of the auto industry to be determined by innovation, not mandates. Americans should always have access to affordable, reliable, and functional vehicles, and I look forward to continuing to advance this vital legislation in the House."

The Choice in Automobile Retail Sales (CARS) Act
The Choice in Automobile Retail Sales (CARS) Act would prevent the implementation of regulations that seek to limit consumer choice, instead allowing consumers to choose the vehicle that best meets their needs. The legislation would:

• Prohibit the use of authority under the Clean Air Act to issue regulations that mandate the use of any specific technology or that would limit the availability of new motor vehicles based on that vehicle's engine type
• Require the EPA to update any regulations that result in the limited availability of new vehicles based upon that vehicle's engine within two years

Background
On March 20, 2024, the Biden-era EPA finalized a rule titled "Multi-Pollutant Emissions Standards for Model Years 2027 and Later Light-Duty and Medium-Duty Vehicles." This rule would set stringent emission standards for criteria pollutants and greenhouse gases for these vehicles, and the EPA has projected that due to these aggressive standards, around 56% of new vehicles sold between 2030 and 2032 would need to be electric.

This rule raised serious concerns regarding the accessibility of affordable vehicles for the average American consumer. According to research from CRES Forum, the average EV owner's household income is over $100,000, which only equates to about 31% of U.S. households, making electric vehicles an unrealistic option for the majority of American families. Supply chain shortages have also caused the prices of EVs to continue to rise, making electric vehicles further out of reach for consumers.

On January 20, 2025, President Trump issued an executive order to eliminate the electric vehicle mandate. Specifically, the order revoked President Biden's executive order issued on August 5, 2021, which sought to ensure that half of all new vehicles sold in the United States by 2030 were electric.

To further promote consumer choice, in February 2026, the Trump administration announced the rescission of the 2009 Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding. The final rule eliminated the legal basis for the EPA's emission standards, thereby repealing the 2024 greenhouse gas emission standards for light-duty and medium-duty vehicles.