List of 57 House Republicans Who Voted with Democrats to Let the Government Disable Your Car
Not one but 57 Republicans broke ranks midweek, siding with Democrats to stop a measure aimed at cutting funds for a government rule critics describe as a 'kill switch.' The move exposed splits inside the GOP just hours after the debate began.The amendment, authored by Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, targeted provisions within the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (H.R. 7148) that fund the implementation of Section 24220 of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. According to the official House roll call, the measure failed 164-268, with 160 Republicans voting in favour and 57 joining 211 Democrats in opposition.Representative Keith Self of Texas, who supported the Massie amendment, responded sharply on social media. 'Unbelievably disturbing,' Self wrote. '57 House Republicans just joined almost all the Democrats to ensure the government can shut off your car whenever it wants.'How the Technology Would WorkIn 2021, the infrastructure law ordered that by 2026, all new passenger vehicles must include 'advanced drunk and impaired driving prevention technology' as standard equipment. The rule is firm: once impairment registers, the vehicle responds without delay. Moreover, lawmakers made sure that detection triggers immediate intervention.Ahead of official rules, carmakers can rely on cameras, on how a person steers, or air sensors that spot alcohol. When signs appear that someone might not be able to drive safely, the system might stop the engine. Instead of waiting for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to act, some brands are already testing these checks inside vehicles.Representative Harriet Hageman of Wyoming, who backed the amendment, previously characterised the mandate as 'a massive and likely unconstitutional rule and an invasion of privacy on a greater scale than we are used to seeing from our government.'Safety vs Privacy: The Core DebateSome say this tool tackles a real danger on the roads. Records show that in 2021, more than 13,000 people died in US crashes tied to drinking, which is about 31% of total road deaths. While numbers speak loudly, others remain unsure whether it truly helps.Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida stood by the rule and argued for its worth on the chamber floor, calling passive drunk driving tech a key way to protect family members and others sharing the roadways.On the other hand, some argue that this rule sets up systems that watch people too closely. It is unclear how cars can tell if someone passes out from illness instead of drunk driving. Insurers might get hold of records showing how a person drives. There are also doubts about procedures to restart a car stalled far from help.The 57 Republicans Who Voted 'No'The following GOP members voted against defunding the vehicle monitoring mandate:Mark Amodei (NV),Don Bacon (NE)Stephanie Bice (OK)Gus Bilirakis (FL)Mike Bost (IL)Ken Calvert (CA)John Carter (TX)Tom Cole (OK)Mario Diaz-Balart (FL)Neal Dunn (FL)Chuck Edwards (NC)Jake Ellzey (TX)Randy Feenstra (IA)Randy Fine (FL)Chuck Fleischmann (TN)Brian Fitzpatrick (PA)Vince Fong (CA)Andrew Garbarino (NY)Carlos Gimenez (FL)French Hill (AR)Jeff Hurd (CO)Monica Jack (GA)John James (MI)David Joyce (OH)Tom Kean (NJ)Mike Kelly (PA)Jen Kiggans (VA)Kevin Kiley (CA)Young Kim (CA)Gregorio Sablan King-Hinds (MP)Darin LaHood (IL)Nick LaLota (NY)Mike Lawler (NY)Frank Lucas (OK)Nicole Malliotakis (NY)Celeste Maloy (UT)Brian Mast (FL)Dan Meuser (PA)Carol Miller (OH)Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA)Dan Moore (NC)Blake Moore (UT)James Moylan (GU)Greg Murphy (NC)Dan Newhouse (WA)Zach Nunn (IA)Hal Rogers (KY)Maria Salazar (FL)Mike Simpson (ID)Elise Stefanik (NY)Glenn Thompson (PA)Mike Turner (OH)David Valadao (CA)Derrick Van Orden (WI)Robert Wittman (VA)Steve Womack (AR)Ryan Zinke (MT)What This Means for Car BuyersOne way or another, the larger funding bill moved forward by a vote of 341 to 88, so the requirement stays active and on track. Now, people who buy new cars will find them equipped with built-in monitors that watch how drivers act, and these could even stop the car if needed.This question might linger past the 2026 elections, seen by some as caution and by others as intrusion. How it's judged could shift depending on who you ask, yet answers may stay just out of reach.
