The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee’s portion of Republicans’ party-line budget bill would repeal hundreds of millions of dollars for science and climate programs while effectively eliminating a federal fuel efficiency regulation.
The text, unveiled Thursday, contains many of the provisions included in both the House Transportation and Infrastructure and Energy and Commerce committees’ portions of the GOP’s sweeping reconciliation bill but leaves out a section intended to implement new fees on electric vehicles and hybrids.
Senate Republicans’ proposal comes as the upper chamber is racing to tweak and ultimately pass President Donald Trump’s tax, energy and national security package before the end of the month. By combining the administration’s priorities in a budget reconciliation bill for the current fiscal year, lawmakers can get around the Senate’s filibuster rules and pass the package with a simple majority.
“The Commerce Committee section invests in bold and transformational policies that will positively impact Americans now and for generations to come,” Chair Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said in a statement.
