Don't you love how Washington bureaucrats have decided your truck needs the fuel efficiency of a Prius on a juice cleanse? The result was better gas mileage, yes, but also horrific sticker shock and fewer options. Now a group of lawmakers is rolling out a bill to send those rules packing for good, so whether you just want a truck that can haul hay without needing a second mortgage or would like to pay less for your next commuter car, read on for good news!
Here are Five Fast Facts about taking CAFE off the menu:
- 📝 Senate Start - The bill is the Restoring Affordability in Automobile Manufacturing (RAAM) Act, introduced by Senators Mike Crapo, Pete Ricketts, Jim Risch, Rick Scott, Cindy Hyde-Smith, and Alan Armstrong.
- 🔩 Nuts And Bolts - The RAAM Act would permanently end Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards beginning with model year 2029, and prevent future administrations from bringing them back or imposing stricter versions. It's a legal version of salting a conquered land.
- 💰 Affordability Factor - The primary goal is affordability. Biden-era fuel regulations limited vehicle choices, drove up costs, and basically set an EV mandate that forced farmers and businesses to absorb the expense of following along despite their wallets' protests.
- 👏 All In Favor - Supporters say eliminating CAFE would lower vehicle prices and avoid the regulatory costs baked into vehicle prices, giving consumers more money left over after buying a car or truck. In other words, the proposed savings might finally let your paycheck enjoy something besides watching your car payment eat it.
- 🖐️ Just Say No - Opponents argue CAFE has become important for fuel economy and national energy security. The program was created in 1975 after the OPEC oil embargo. News flash: we're now a net exporter of oil, so...is this seriously needed anymore?
🔥Bottom line: The RAAM Act is essentially a congressional debate over who gets to sit in the driver’s seat: federal regulators or consumers. These Senators say the answer should be consumers. Critics say that when you remove the rules designed to make vehicles use less fuel, you may eventually discover that “more choice” also comes with a larger appetite for gasoline. Um, yeah. Isn't it great when we can agree on these things?
What do you think about the RAAM Act and CAFE standards?
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