Dan Sullivan (R-AK)
Cold Weather Diesel Reliability Act of 2026
A Republican bill with 3 Republican cosponsors · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 619.
Cleared committee, waiting for its first floor vote
A committee approved it and it is on the calendar of the chamber it started in.
This is further than most bills get, and still no promise of a vote: the calendar is a queue, and the majority leadership decides what is called. A bill can sit here until the Congress ends.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
This bill requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to update regulations under the Clean Air Act. It allows manufacturers of certain diesel vehicles and equipment to suspend engine power reductions or shutdowns caused by emissions control systems during cold weather. The legislation provides relief when temperatures are at or below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. It also allows manufacturers to permanently suspend these derate or shutdown functions on agricultural equipment and vehicles primarily operated north of 59 degrees north latitude. The bill specifies that no party other than a covered manufacturer may suspend these functions, and it states that nothing in the Act waives compliance with any emissions standard under the Clean Air Act.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +6
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
Provides critical safety and reliability for diesel transportation in remote cold regions.
- Scored +5
Would farmers be better off under this?
Directly benefits agricultural operations using diesel equipment in freezing conditions.
- Scored +3
Would business owners be better off under this?
Reduces risk of equipment downtime for operators in cold climates.
The opposite
- Scored -4
Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change?
Allows for the suspension of emissions control functions and exemptions from diesel exhaust fluid requirements.
- Scored -4
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
Weakens emissions safeguards by allowing malfunctions to persist in cold weather.
- Scored -1
Would people in cities be better off under this?
Potentially increases local emissions in urban areas if exemptions are applied broadly.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Cold Weather Operations for Vehicles: Section 3(a) authorizes covered manufacturers to suspend engine derate or shutdown functions triggered by emissions control systems when ambient temperatures are at or below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, provided the engine returns to normal operation once temperatures rise above 20 degrees Fahrenheit. This could help people operating diesel vehicles and equipment avoid sudden power loss or shutdowns in freezing weather.
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Relief for Agricultural Equipment: Section 3(b)(1) authorizes covered manufacturers to permanently suspend inducement-related engine derate or shutdown functions triggered by emissions control systems on agricultural equipment. This may benefit farmers by preventing unexpected engine power reductions or shutdowns during agricultural work.
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Relief for Arctic Regions: Section 3(b)(2) authorizes covered manufacturers to permanently suspend inducement-related engine derate or shutdown functions triggered by emissions control systems on covered vehicles primarily operated north of 59 degrees north latitude. This could benefit individuals and workers in far northern regions by ensuring continuous vehicle operation without weather-related system shutdowns.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Emissions System Deactivation: Section 3(a) and Section 3(b) allow for the suspension or permanent suspension of engine derate or shutdown functions that are triggered by emissions control systems during cold temperatures, on agricultural equipment, and in vehicles operated north of 59 degrees north latitude. While the bill states in Section 4 that compliance with emissions standards is not waived, suspending these enforcement mechanisms means vehicles and equipment may continue to operate even when their emissions control systems experience faults or system issues.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Provides critical safety and reliability for diesel transportation in remote cold regions. Would farmers be better off under this? — Directly benefits agricultural operations using diesel equipment in freezing conditions. Would business owners be better off under this? — Reduces risk of equipment downtime for operators in cold climates. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — Positively impacts those living in remote northern latitudes, which include many indigenous communities. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Potentially increases local emissions in urban areas if exemptions are applied broadly.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — Improves reliability of critical transportation in remote and rural freezing regions. Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster? — Prevents life-threatening equipment failure for emergency services in extreme cold. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — Weakens emissions safeguards by allowing malfunctions to persist in cold weather. Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change? — Allows for the suspension of emissions control functions and exemptions from diesel exhaust fluid requirements.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Reduces operational disruptions for small businesses utilizing diesel equipment in cold climates.
- 9/16/2026
- Committee on Environment and Public Works. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Capito with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 619.
- 3/11/2026
- Committee on Environment and Public Works. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-407.
- 3/2/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/26/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 11/6/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
John CurtisRepublican · Utah
Cynthia LummisRepublican · Wyoming
Lisa MurkowskiRepublican · Alaska