[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6250 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6250
To require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to
authorize manufacturers of certain vehicles to suspend engine derate or
shutdown functions in prolonged cold weather conditions, and for other
purposes.
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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 21, 2025
Mr. Begich introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce
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A BILL
To require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to
authorize manufacturers of certain vehicles to suspend engine derate or
shutdown functions in prolonged cold weather conditions, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Cold Weather Diesel Reliability Act
of 2025''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) diesel vehicles are vital for critical transportation
and emergency services in cold weather regions;
(2) in rural regions with prolonged freezing conditions,
diesel exhaust fluid storage, supply, and system functionality
are frequently unreliable and logistically impractical on a
year-round basis;
(3) automatic engine shutdowns and power reductions due to
emissions control malfunctions in extreme cold pose serious,
life-threatening risks; and
(4) emissions safeguards under the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C.
7401 et seq.) were never intended to jeopardize human safety or
impede critical mobility.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
(2) Covered manufacturer.--The term ``covered
manufacturer'' means the manufacturer (as defined in section
216 of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7550)) of a covered vehicle
or an engine of a covered vehicle.
(3) Covered vehicle.--The term ``covered vehicle'' means an
on-highway diesel vehicle or nonroad diesel equipment.
SEC. 4. DIESEL ENGINE EMISSIONS RELIEF IN COLD WEATHER REGIONS.
(a) Cold Weather Sensor Mitigation Measures.--Not later than 180
days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall
revise any applicable regulation under the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C.
7401 et seq.) that applies to covered vehicles or engines used in
covered vehicles to authorize covered manufacturers to suspend
inducement-related engine derate or shutdown functions that are
triggered by emissions control system faults when ambient temperatures
are at or below zero degrees Centigrade and to specify that no party
other than a covered manufacturer shall suspend those inducement-
related derate or shutdown functions, subject to the conditions that--
(1) the engine returns to normal emission control
operation, including inducement enforcement, once ambient
temperatures rise above zero degrees Centigrade; and
(2) continued maximum engine performance when ambient
temperatures are at or below zero degrees Centigrade is
necessary to prevent occupational danger, equipment failure, or
loss of essential transportation functionality in remote areas
with limited roadside support or emergency communications
access.
(b) Relief to Regions With Prolonged Freezing Conditions.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall revise any
applicable regulation under the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401
et seq.) to grant a year-round exemption from diesel exhaust
fluid system requirements any covered vehicle that--
(A) is primarily operated north of 59 degrees north
latitude, as demonstrated by documentation of
commercial operation, domicile location, or maintenance
and dispatch records; or
(B) encounters operational or logistical conditions
characterized by prolonged ambient temperatures that--
(i) are below the freezing point of diesel
exhaust fluid; or
(ii) otherwise make the use of the diesel
exhaust fluid system impractical.
(2) Scope of relief.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the
Administrator shall grant to a covered vehicle described in
subparagraph (A) or (B) of that paragraph an exemption from any
requirement to include an engine derate or shutdown function
that is triggered by the absence, degradation, malfunction, or
fault of a diesel exhaust fluid system, including any
associated sensors or electronic control modules.
SEC. 5. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.
Nothing in this Act waives compliance with any emissions standard
under the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.) outside of--
(1) the temporary cold-weather operational mode authorized
under section 4(a); and
(2) the exemption from diesel exhaust fluid system
requirements under section 4(b).
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