Senator Mark Walczyk has expressed support for President Trump’s executive order that temporarily halts mandates on heavy-duty electric trucks. The Trump Administration’s decision underscores the belief that states should not impose regulations exceeding federal guidelines from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This stance has led to legal challenges, including lawsuits by New York Attorney General Letitia James against the federal government.
Senator Walczyk remarked, “This is a significant victory for the trucking industry. Our hard-working truckers deserve the opportunity to operate without the unnecessary burden of state-by-state mandates that are impractical and sometimes impossible.” The Truckers Association of New York, among other organizations, views this executive order as a positive development. Kendra Hems, President of the association, commented, “Right now we’re all kind of taking a breath. Our dealers are able to sell trucks again, which is great.”
This move aligns with Senator Walczyk’s cosponsorship of bill S1749, introduced by Senator Joe Griffo. The bill aims to prevent regulations on zero-emission vehicle percentages in sales fleets of medium and heavy-duty vehicles and seeks to pause Advanced Clean Truck Act (ACT) regulations.
In light of these actions, New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation has emphasized the need for practical solutions that promote clean vehicle sales while allowing manufacturers to navigate recent uncertainties effectively. Senator Walczyk remains opposed to costly mandates and supports S1749 as part of his commitment to backing the trucking industry.
Senator Walczyk further stated, “When the trucking industry gets picked on, everyone literally pays the price in goods and services. The President’s Executive Order backs up what Senator Griffo and I are trying to bring to bear – glad to see it.”
