Good afternoon,

In honor of Earth Day this Saturday, we're highlighting one of President Biden's sustainable initiatives that is looking to revolutionize rural America's transportation.

EMISSIONS STANDARDS TO DRIVE EV PRODUCTION

• Last Wednesday, the Biden administration proposed new tailpipe emissions standard for cars, light trucks, and vans that will fuel greater electric vehicle (EV) production.
   
• Under the new proposal, two of every three new cars and light trucks sold in the U.S. in 2032 will be electric – more than 10 times the current national sales rate. The standards would also help to cut nearly 10 billion tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and reduce reliance of imported oil.
   
  • Transportation is one of the country's highest-emitting sector, pushing 1.7 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year.
     
  • We're still dangerously off-track our Paris Agreement goal of reducing GHG emissions by 50 to 52 percent below 2005 levels by 2030 – in 2022, we only managed to reduce emissions 15.5 percent below 2005 levels.
     
• In the wake of international geopolitical tumult, a spurt of high gas prices put a lot of pressure on rural Americans, who, living in more remote areas, devote a greater proportion of their income to transportation. Although costs of both gas and EVs are still high, prices are finally beginning to cool thanks to Democrats' efforts such as the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), which are helping to secure domestic supply chains and promote the transportation transition.
   
• The IRA includes up to $7,500 in tax credits for domestically produced EVs, but many remain unaffordable for rural consumers.
   
• The BIL provides funding to expand EV charging networks in rural communities across the country.
   
• Corporations like Walmart are installing EV charging stations in their parking lots. With around 90 percent of Americans living within 10 miles of a Walmart, this initiative will bolster rural and underserved communities' EV market. Read more from Politico.

BRINGING EGGS BACK TO YOUR BASKET

• After an avian flu caused egg prices to skyrocket, grocery prices are finally coming back down – spelling good news for Americans who have been working hard to put food on their tables.
   
• While we're putting eggs back in our grocery baskets, core inflation – which measures the basket of goods not including the more volatile food and energy prices – remains high.

BUDGET DOWNING DEBT LIMIT DEBATE

• Speaker Kevin McCarthy's latest budget proposal is proof he is not so concerned about what's in your wallet. The proposed expansion of work requirements for social programs such as SNAP that will increase food insecurity amongst low-income earners and their children.
   
• Monday, at the New York Stock Exchange, Speaker McCarthy also laid out the most recent proposal to lift the debt limit until roughly May 2024 – but not without budgetary strings attached.

• Amidst inflation, recession fears, and recent bank failures, the GOP's political gambit of tying the debt ceiling to the budget threatens to destabilize the economy further, causing Americans to lose jobs and the U.S. economy to tank.

• We've already hit the limit, and now lawmakers have as little as seven weeks to act to lift the ceiling. 16 of the 222 House Republicans have never voted to raise the debt ceiling – even under President Trump.
   
• The debt limit must be separated from the contentious budget discussions. While we need to address our debt that and have a conversation about spending, Republicans cannot hold our economy hostage to get there.

HEARINGS THIS WEEK

• Yesterday, the House Agriculture Committee's Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry is holding a hearing to review USDA animal disease prevention and response efforts.
   
• Today, the House Agriculture Committee is holding a hearing to receive testimony from EPA Administrator Michael Regan.
   
• Also today, the Senate Agriculture Committee's Subcommittee on Food and Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Organics, and Research is holding a hearing on SNAP and other nutrition assistance in the Farm Bill.
   
• Tomorrow, the Senate Agriculture Committee's Subcommittee on Conservation, Climate, Forestry, and Natural Resources is holding a hearing on Conservation in the Farm Bill: Making Conservation Programs Work for Farmers and Ranchers.
   

• New York Times: Supreme Court to Decide Availability of Abortion Pill as Appeal Moves Forward
   
• Third Way: 12 Ideas to Jumpstart Progress on Paid Leave
   
• Washington Post: Opinion | This plan for a third-party presidential bid in 2024 is dangerous
   
• The Daily Yonder: Is it Culture of Economics? Why Rural Communities Have Moved to the Right
   
• Politico: What last night's abortion twist means for access – even in blue states
   
• Agri-Pulse: Rural hospitals in crisis as lawmakers search for solutions
   

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