Senate Republicans resist Biden’s Highway Traffic Safety nominee: report

When Democrats slightly increased their effective U.S. Senate majority in the 2022 midterms, they hoped that President Joe Biden would generally have an easier time getting nominees confirmed. But one Biden nominee who is running into problems is Ann Carlson, his pick to head the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Biden appointed Carlson as NHTSA's acting head, but according to The Hill's Alexander Bolton, Republicans on the Senate Commerce Committee — including Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) — are resisting making her permanent.

In an article published by The Hill on May 1, Bolton reports, "All 13 Republicans on the panel have signed a letter raising concerns over Carlson's track record at the agency. They fear she's going to follow the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and set strict fuel economy standards intended to push Americans into buying electric vehicles (EVs)."

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The Hill correspondent notes that in 2020, NHTSA "announced new fuel efficiency standards for passenger cars and light trucks model years 2024 to 2026, requiring 8 percent higher fuel efficiency in 2024 and 2025 and 10 percent higher fuel efficiency in 2026."

Republicans, however, aren't the only challenge that Biden faces with Carlson on the Senate Commerce Committee.

Bolton observes, "The Commerce Committee has become a difficult venue for Biden’s nominees because three members who sit on the Democratic side of the dais — Sens. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) — face tough reelection battles next year…. These lawmakers will come under pressure to oppose Carlson."

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Read The Hill's full report at this link.