Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa has taken a decisive step against the push by Democrat-led states to implement zero-emission train mandates.
On Thursday, she introduced the Lifting Overburdensome Commerce Obstructions and Motives (LOCOMOTIVES) Act, aimed at preventing states like California from enforcing Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) waivers that would require all new trains to be zero-emission by 2030 for industrial use and by 2035 for regular hauling. "I am derailing another Green New Deal mandate coming down the tracks," Ernst declared in a statement to Breitbart News.
According to Breitbart, California had previously sought a waiver from the Biden administration's EPA to implement such a proposal. This rule would have prohibited trains older than 23 years from operating within the state, effectively reducing the time trains could idle. Additionally, it would have established a financial account for rail operators to contribute to, based on their emissions. Although the EPA considered the waiver, California ultimately withdrew its request earlier this year.
Senator Ernst has been vocal about her opposition to what she perceives as overreach by Democrat states. "We have to keep Californias crazy train ideas from leaving the station," she emphasized, highlighting the critical role railroads play in transporting goods essential to everyday life. Ernst's legislative efforts reflect a broader conservative stance against what is seen as excessive regulation and government intervention in the free market.
In tandem with her efforts to curb what she views as burdensome environmental mandates, Ernst is also championing American manufacturing. As chair of the Senate Small Business Committee, she recently introduced the Made in American Manufacturing Act. This legislation aims to bolster domestic manufacturing by doubling the individual loan limit for the 7(a) and 504 small manufacturing loans from $5 million to $10 million. Ernst expressed her vision for a resurgence in American manufacturing, stating, "I believe in a great American comeback, one driven by the worlds most talented workforce and a new era of domestic manufacturing ensuring this nations economic security."
She credited President Trump's leadership for the early signs of a manufacturing revival, particularly in Iowa and across the nation. Ernst underscored the pivotal role of small manufacturers, noting, "No group is more eager to lead this charge than small manufacturers, who make up 98 percent of all manufacturing firms in the United States." Her initiatives reflect a commitment to fostering economic growth through traditional values of entrepreneurship and limited government intervention.
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