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Publication: Congressional Record, Extensions of Remarks
Speaker: Congressman John Garamendi Date: 4 April 2022 |
Mr. GARAMENDI. Madam Speaker, today I introduce the ``Military Vehicle Fleet Electrification Act.'' Among other things, this transformative legislation would require the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to replace its fleet of nontactical vehicles with at least 75 percent electric or zero-emission vehicles. The DOD remains the single largest institutional consumer of petroleum in the world. As chairman of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, I am deeply committed to getting the American military to do its part to combat the climate crisis by reducing fossil fuel use and transitioning our nation to a clean energy economy. As the Pentagon turns over its fleet of nontactical vehicles, it only makes sense that those replacements be electric or zero-emission vehicles to the greatest extent practicable. According to the General Services Administration (GSA), the DOD currently has more than 174,000 nontactical vehicles across the service branches, including the Coast Guard, and the various defense agencies. That is the second largest share of the overall federal vehicle fleet, after the U.S. Postal Service at more than 225,000 vehicles. In December 2021, the Biden Administration published its Federal Sustainability Plan, indicating that the DOD is responsible for 56 percent of the federal government's overall greenhouse gas emissions. My legislation would apply to all future non-tactical vehicles, such as passenger cars, vans, or light-duty trucks, purchased or leased for the military. It would not apply to vehicles used in combat or warzones like Humvees. My legislation includes the strongest possible ``Buy American'' requirements, ensuring that electric vehicle components like batteries are not sourced from hostile foreign countries like the People's Republic of China or Russian Federation. Importantly, my legislation would apply to both direct procurement by the DOD itself and any non-tactical vehicles for which the GSA acts as the procurement or leasing agent on behalf of the service branches or defense agencies. As a nation and within our military, we have a responsibility to make thoughtful purchases with taxpayer funds to combat the climate crisis. Transitioning the military's enormous fleet of passenger cars, light- duty trucks, and vans with internal combustion engines to American-made electric and zero-emission vehicles is a commonsense way to further reduce our nation's greenhouse gas emissions. I plan to make this critical legislation a top priority in the Readiness mark of the forthcoming National Defense Authorization Act. Madam Speaker, I urge all Members of the House to join me in cosponsoring the ``Military Vehicle Fleet Electrification Act.''