Presidential Veto Expected for Trucking Emissions Resolution
A proposal aimed at overturning the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) new emissions standards for heavy-duty trucks is poised for a presidential veto.
On Tuesday, the House of Representatives passed a Senate resolution to block the EPA rule aimed at enhancing emissions standards for heavy-duty trucks, starting with model-year 2027 vehicles, with a vote of 221-203.
S.J. Res. 11 Passed – 221 Yeas, 203 Nays
— Republican Cloakroom (@RepCloakroom) May 23, 2023
The resolution narrowly passed the Senate on April 26 with a vote of 50-49, although Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein was absent.
According to the White House, President Joe Biden intends to veto the resolution, as indicated last month when it moved through the Senate. This would mark only the third veto during his presidency.
The EPA’s extensive 1,153-page rule aims to cut nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from heavy-duty trucks by over 40% by 2040 and by more than 50% by 2045. It mandates adherence to a wider range of engine operating conditions than current standards, along with longer compliance periods.
The April statement from the EPA highlighted that heavy-duty vehicles contribute to pollutants that endanger public health, asserting that the final regulations will significantly reduce premature deaths, childhood asthma cases, and lost school days for millions living near heavily trafficked roadways.
Todd Spencer, president of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, criticized the push for equipment that historically led to significant reliability problems and warned that the proposed timeline could severely impact the country’s supply chains. He described the regulations as “misguided,” emphasizing that truckers are equally committed to clean air but play a crucial role in transporting over 70% of America’s freight.
