Mobile Courant

U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville, along with several other senators, has introduced a bipartisan Congressional Review Act (CRA) Joint Resolution to nullify a rule from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The rule imposes greenhouse gas emissions performance measures on state departments of transportation and metropolitan planning organizations.

Senator Tuberville criticized the rule, stating that "DOT’s rule is not functional or practical for Alabama or other rural states, yet the Administration continues to push one-size-fits-all regulations that burden our states and citizens."

The rule requires state DOTs and metropolitan planning organizations to set declining targets for greenhouse gas emissions on the National Highway System. However, many states, particularly rural ones like Alabama, have criticized the proposal as an undue burden and impractical in areas where traffic congestion and emissions are already scarce.

Furthermore, Congress has not provided the Department of Transportation (DOT) with any statutory authority to implement this proposal. The authority was intentionally struck from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act before enactment by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

This is not the first time such a rule has been introduced. In 2018, the Trump administration repealed a similar rule from the Obama administration. The new FHWA rule resembles the 2017 Obama administration rule, which has raised concerns among state DOTs and attorneys general, including Alabama's Attorney General.

The resolution to overturn the rule has garnered support from several other senators, including Mitch McConnell, John Thune, and John Cornyn, among others.

Senator Tuberville has been a vocal advocate for American energy and has spoken out against overregulation. He supports an all-of-the-above approach to American energy, including increasing the use of environmentally-safe and affordable nuclear energy.

In recent months, Senator Tuberville has delivered floor speeches and submitted letters opposing various proposed rules that he believes would hinder American energy production and increase prices. He has also introduced legislation, such as the Thorium Energy Security Act and the American Energy Independence Act of 2022, to promote clean energy production and reverse the Biden administration's policies on fossil fuels.

Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans' Affairs, and HELP Committees.