Rep. Doug LaMalfa Questions CA High-Speed Rail Funding and EV Mandates

California High-Speed Rail Concerns

• 🚄 California's high-speed rail project, initially planned in 2008 for $33 billion from SF to LA, is now projected to cost $128-$130 billion.
• 💰 In 17 years, only $17 billion has been secured through state bonds, federal grants, and carbon tax money, leaving a shortfall of $110 billion.
• 📍 The first segment, Merced to Bakersfield, is designated as an 'early operating segment' with a target completion of 2033, significantly delayed from its original scope.
• 🔍 Secretary Sean Duffy is conducting a review to assess if federal funding commitments are being upheld, noting the lack of progress and shift in focus from major population centers.

Electric Vehicle Mandate Review

• 🚗 The Biden administration's EV mandate, seen as a backdoor to CAFE standards, is being reworked by the Department of Transportation.
• ⛽ A previous standard of 51 miles per gallon was deemed unfeasible, especially with the inclusion of EVs, which Congress may not have intended.
• 💰 The department estimates that carbon credit purchases add $1,500-$2,000 to the cost of new vehicles, penalizing taxpayers.
• 💡 The focus is on returning to common-sense regulations that allow consumers the freedom to choose their vehicles, rather than driving specific outcomes.

Other Infrastructure Updates

• ✈️ Congressman LaMalfa expressed appreciation for the FAA's progress on a safety fence for the Tule Lake Airport in Northern California, a project mandated 13 years prior.