[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 85 (Monday, May 17, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S2534]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          BIDEN ADMINISTRATION

  Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, one final matter. Tomorrow, President 
Biden will visit an electric manufacturing facility in Michigan, where 
a major American auto company is set to unveil its new electric--
electric--pickup truck.
  Tomorrow's announcement is a significant breakthrough. Because it is 
one of the bestselling cars in America, the success of an electric 
pickup could hasten our Nation's transition to a cleaner, brighter, and 
stronger transportation future.
  And personally, I am very happy to see the Biden administration put a 
spotlight on zero-emission vehicles. This is an issue I have been 
working on for a very long time, and something I am passionate about. 
No matter how you look at the data, there is no way that America can 
meet our targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions without looking 
at how we drive. Transportation accounts for nearly one-third of 
America's carbon outlook. And while the transition to electric vehicles 
is already underway, it is progressing too slowly.
  That is why almost 2 years ago I developed and introduced an 
ambitious new proposal to rapidly phase out gas-powered vehicles and 
replace them with clean cars. All told, the object of the plan--called 
Clean Cars for America--is that by 2040, all vehicles on the road 
should be clean. I am delighted that President Biden has put this 
proposal in his build back America infrastructure plan.
  Through a mixture of credits and investments, it would make electric 
vehicles affordable for all Americans, provide incentives to trade in 
older gas vehicles, build the necessary charging infrastructure, and, 
very importantly, create tens of thousands of good-paying union jobs in 
automaking, construction, and battery manufacturing.
  What distinguishes this proposal is its ability to unite the 
environmental movement, the labor movement, and the large automakers.
  Isn't that a great thing? We used to have the environmental proposals 
and work and union proposals conflict--no more because we are taking 
each other's needs into account. This bill has already earned the 
support of the Sierra Club, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the 
League of Conservation Voters, the UAW, and the International 
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and car manufacturers like Ford and 
General Motors are supportive as well.
  So you have the whole span. Something like this should pass with a 
lot of votes, I hope. And I was very proud to see President Biden put 
my Clean Cars for America proposal at the heart of his American jobs 
plan.
  In recent weeks, the virtue of such a plan has been made apparent to 
millions of drivers and not just for climate-saving reasons. The 
gasoline shortages along the eastern seaboard, though temporary, 
revealed, once again, that electric vehicles can be more reliable. For 
EVs, the price and availability of fuel does not depend on the ebb and 
flow of fossil fuel discovery, the volatility of international markets, 
or panics, like the one we just saw.
  On every front--on jobs, American economic leadership, protecting the 
planet--transitioning to a clean car future provides benefits. In the 
20th century, America led the way in auto manufacturing. If we fall 
behind on electric cars, we will no longer lead the way. But this 
legislation has us staying No. 1 and producing lots of good-paying 
jobs--hallelujah.
  So as the President prepares to go to Michigan for this important 
announcement, we should also be talking about making a larger scale, 
ambitious effort to speed our country's transition to zero-emission 
vehicles. Clean Cars for America is the way to do it.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
order for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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