Killswitch Engage: House Rejects Amendment Blocking Automobile ‘Kill Switch’

The House voted against an appropriations amendment this week that would block funding for a provision in federal law that implements a “kill switch” in automobiles. The “kill switch,” which some Republicans have raised concerns over, is billed as a lifesaving, anti-drunken driving technology.

In a 268-164 vote, the House rejected Rep. Thomas Massie’s (R-KY) amendment, and Republicans are sounding the alarm.

Ahead of the vote, Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), who is also running for Texas attorney general, backed the effort against the vehicular kill switches, writing on social media that “the federal government should get the heck out of our cars and trucks, and no company or third party should invasively track our movements.”

The effort was rejected, however, after 57 Republicans voted against it.

Former Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican who has been critical of President Donald Trump and Republicans as of late, responded to the vote by pointing out that “pretty much all 57 of those Republicans are endorsed by President Trump.” “But Thomas Massie is baaaddddddd!!!!!” she jokingly added.

The controversial measure comes from Section 24220 of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The bill calls for a technological system that can “passively monitor the performance of a driver of a motor vehicle to accurately identify whether that driver may be impaired.” If so, it would “prevent or limit motor vehicle operation if an impairment is detected.”

Detractors argue that the measure opens the door to government monitoring and allows the government to control automobiles.

Wayne Crews, a Fred L. Smith Fellow in Regulatory Studies at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, supported Rep. Massie’s appropriations amendment, commenting that “the vehicle ‘kill-switch’ is precisely the kind of overreach that will empower regulatory agencies to manage behavior without votes by elected representatives in Congress or real accountability.”

 

The following Representatives voted against Rep. Massie’s appropriations amendment:

Rep. John Carter (R-TX)

Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX)

Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX)

Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX)

Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX)

Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)

Rep. Jake Ellzey (R-TX)

Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX)

Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX)

Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-TX)

Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX)

Rep. Al Green (D-TX)

Rep. Julie Johnson (D-TX)

Rep. Marc Veasey (D-TX)