Springfield Standard

WASHINGTON- Congressman Eric Burlison (R-MO-07) and Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-WY-At Large) have introduced the Undoing Nationwide Programs and Limiting Unnecessary Grants for Electric Vehicles (UNPLUG EVs) Act. The purpose of this act is to rescind funding for the two electric vehicle charging station grants in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

In explaining the rationale behind the act, Rep. Burlison stated, "The federal government's role isn't to subsidize the electric vehicle industry, especially when doing so raises energy prices for Americans, makes our grid less reliable, and accelerates Communist China’s already dominant share of the EV market."

He further emphasized the burden on American taxpayers, saying, "Once again, we’re robbing Peter to pay Paul. The average American family is priced out of expensive EVs, yet these same taxpayers are forced to foot the bill for EV infrastructure. In reality, cheap, affordable energy is the foundation of our high standard of living. Forcing Americans to transition away from traditional energy sources makes energy less affordable and reliable, hitting working families the hardest."

Rep. Hageman also voiced her concerns about the effectiveness of President Biden's NEVI program, stating, "Last year I spoke on the House floor and exposed the utter failure of President Biden’s NEVI program. Since this program began in November 2021, the Biden Administration has wasted billions of taxpayer dollars to prop up the EV industry. Over 27 months later, they have a grand total of 1 new EV charger built. It is clear that the Biden Administration’s self-imposed EV mandates are unworkable and impractical, and I am proud to partner with Rep. Burlison to salvage whatever taxpayer money has not yet been sacrificed in an attempt to placate the 'climate gods.'"

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which became law on November 15, 2021, introduced two grant initiatives aimed at deploying electric vehicle charging stations - the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program and the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure grant program. These initiatives are supported by a substantial $7.5 billion in funding.

However, according to the Deloitte 2022 Global Automotive Study, the majority of Americans do not plan to purchase electric vehicles. Only 5% of respondents expressed an intention to opt for an electric vehicle, while 17% showed potential interest in a hybrid. Rep. Burlison argues that determining winners and losers in the energy market is not the government's responsibility and that consumers and businesses should be allowed to navigate the free market without intervention.

The UNPLUG EVs Act has garnered support from several co-sponsors, including Representatives Andy Ogles (R-TN-05), Troy Nehls (R-TX-22), Scott Perry (R-PA-10), Byron Donalds (R-FL-19), Chip Roy (R-TX-21), Randy Weber (R-TX-14), Lauren Boebert (R-CO-3), Matt Rosendale (R-MT-02), and Chuck Edwards (R-NC-11).

For more information, the bill text can be accessed here.

This news article summarizes the introduction of the Undoing Nationwide Programs and Limiting Unnecessary Grants for Electric Vehicles (UNPLUG EVs) Act by Rep. Burlison and Rep. Hageman. The act aims to rescind funding for electric vehicle charging station grants in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Both representatives voiced concerns about the government's subsidization of the electric vehicle industry and its impact on energy prices, grid reliability, and the dominance of the EV market by China. They also criticized President Biden's NEVI program for its inefficiency. The article highlights the findings of the Deloitte 2022 Global Automotive Study, which indicate that the majority of Americans do not plan to purchase electric vehicles. The co-sponsors of the UNPLUG EVs Act were also mentioned.