H.R. 6250

[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.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

November 21, 2025

Mr. Begich introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

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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