{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.ricketts.senate.gov/news/press-releases/ricketts-supports-ending-cafe-standards-to-lower-automobile-costs-for-nebraskan-farmers-and-consumers/", "Ricketts Supports Ending CAFE Standards to Lower Automobile Costs for Nebraskan Farmers and Consumers", "2026-07-29", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "NE", "Pete Ricketts", "R000618", "www.ricketts.senate.gov", "ricketts", "https://www.ricketts.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list&pagenum=", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) joined Senator Crapo (R-ID) and four of his senate colleagues to introduce the Restoring Affordability in Automobile Manufacturing (RAAM Act). This bill would permanently eliminate the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. This would increase consumer choice and lower automobile prices for Nebraskans.\n\nRepublicans eliminated civil monetary penalties for noncompliance with CAFE standards as part of the Working Families Tax Cuts in July 2025. The Trump administration fully reversed President Biden\u2019s CAFE standards by executive order in December 2025. The RAAM Act would permanently eliminate the standards and prevent future administrations from reestablishing these standards or stricter regulations.\n\n\u201cAffordability is at the top of minds for Nebraskans,\u201d said Senator Ricketts. \u201cBiden-era fuel regulations impose unfair fuel standards that limit consumer choice and drive-up costs. Last year, Republicans passed the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, which zeroed out these penalties. To prevent future administrations from raising penalties again, I support permanently repealing the Federal Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. Nebraskans will have more control over the vehicles they purchase, and farmers will no longer have to pay the costs of burdensome regulations. I support the RAAM Act to unleash American energy dominance, lower costs for consumers, and support our agriculture community.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Biden-era CAFE standards turned an energy-security program into a de facto electric vehicle mandate, beyond Congress\u2019s original intent to improve fuel economy and strengthen our nation\u2019s energy security,\u201d said Senator Crapo. \u201cToday\u2019s CAFE standards distort the automobile market, saddle manufacturers with costly compliance requirements that drive up vehicle costs for hardworking families and do little to shield Americans from the volatility of global oil markets. The RAAM Act would repeal the costly, outdated CAFE program and put consumers\u2013not federal regulators\u2013back in the driver\u2019s seat when it comes to vehicle choice.\u201d\n\n\u201cFrom its earliest days, America\u2019s automotive industry was a powerhouse of innovation and inspiration,\u201d said Senator Scott. \u201cIt not only redefined travel and commerce, it helped craft the American spirit and identity of the 20th century. But like so many other great things in American life, big government got in the way. Decades of overbearing regulations left us with cars that are ugly, underpowered, and undesirable. Repealing CAFE standards will give America the chance to make our cars great again by letting automakers design cars Americans, and consumers across the world, want to buy.\u201d\n\nSenators Ricketts and Crapo were joined by Senators Jim Risch (R-ID), Rick Scott (R-FL), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), and Alan Armstrong (R-OK) for introduction of the bill.\n\nThe legislation is supported by the American Petroleum Institute and Americans for Prosperity.\n\nThe RAAM Act would eliminate CAFE standards effective model year 2029. Bill text is available HERE.\n\nBackground:\n\nCongress enacted the CAFE program in 1975 following the OPEC oil embargo to reduce petroleum consumption, improve fuel economy, and strengthen the nation\u2019s energy security.\n\nIn recent years, CAFE standards became a partisan tool used by the Biden administration to advance its unpopular, partisan climate change agenda rather than its intended focus of protecting America\u2019s fuel and energy security.\n\nThe CAFE standard regulations restrict consumer choice, harm U.S. farmers and businesses, and provide a lane for Communist China to infiltrate our automotive industry.", 1, "2026-07-30T07:32:48Z", "2026-07-30T07:34:08Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.ricketts.senate.gov/news/press-releases/ricketts-supports-ending-cafe-standards-to-lower-automobile-costs-for-nebraskan-farmers-and-consumers/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.5509140212088823, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}