House Republicans led a failed effort to block enforcement related to so‑called vehicle kill switch technology, which would be able to monitor diver behavior, detect impairment such as intoxication and intervene.
Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky introduced an amendment to a federal spending bill that would reverse the mandating of the technology. On Thursday, 160 Republicans voted in favor, but the legislation failed 164-268, according to the House Clerk’s official roll call—with 57 Republicans joining 211 Democrats in voting against it.
Why It Matters
The House vote signals substantial Republican support for curbing any move toward mandated impaired-driving prevention systems, but not enough to pass such legislation.
Critics of the kill switch technology see it as government overreach, while those in favor argue that it could prove to be lifesaving.
What To Know
Massie’s amendment is one of several Republican attempts to block the technology’s enforcement. He was also one of the Republicans who introduced the No Kill Switches in Cars Act in February 2025, calling to “repeal a requirement for the Secretary of Transportation to issue certain regulations with respect to advanced impaired driving technology.”
While the technology is not yet a legal requirement in cars, Congress passed a law with the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in 2021 that requires the Department of Transportation to create the mandate.
Thursday’s House vote was about Massie’s amendment to the Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 7148), calling to “prohibit the use of funds made available by this Act to implement section 24220 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, including any requirements enabling or supporting vehicle ‘kill switch’ technology, and to block federal spending for the execution or enforcement of such authorities.”
Full List of 57 House Republicans Who Voted for Kill Switch Technology
- Mark E. Amodei (Nevada)
- Don Bacon (Nebraska)
- Stephanie Bice (Oklahoma)
- Gus Bilirakis (Florida)
- Mike Bost (Illinois)
- Ken Calvert (California)
- John R. Carter (Texas)
- Tom Cole (Oklahoma)
- Mario Diaz-Balart (Florida)
- Neal Dunn (Florida)
- Chuck Edwards (North Carolina)
- Jake Ellzey (Texas)
- Randy Feenstra (Iowa)
- Randy Fine (Florida)
- Brian Fitzpatrick (Pennsylvania)
- Chuck Fleischmann (Tennessee)
- Vince Fong (California)
- Andrew Garbarino (New York)
- Carlos A. Gimenez (Florida)
- French Hill (Arkansas)
- Jeff Hurd (Colorado)
- Brian Jack (Georgia)
- John James (Michigan)
- David Joyce (Ohio)
- Thomas Kean Jr. (New Jersey)
- Mike Kelly (Pennsylvania)
- Jen Kiggans (Virginia)
- Kevin Kiley (California)
- Young Kim (California)
- Kimberlyn King-Hinds (Northern Mariana Islands)
- Darin LaHood (Illinois)
- Nick LaLota (New York)
- Mike Lawler (New York)
- Frank Lucas (Oklahoma)
- Nicole Malliotakis (New York)
- Celeste Maloy (Utah)
- Brian Mast (Florida)
- Dan Meuser (Pennsylvania)
- Max Miller (Ohio)
- Mariannette Miller-Meeks (Iowa)
- Tim Moore (North Carolina)
- Blake Moore (Utah)
- James Moylan (Guam)
- Greg Murphy (North Carolina)
- Dan Newhouse (Washington)
- Zach Nunn (Iowa)
- Hal Rogers (Kentucky)
- Maria Elvira Salazar (Florida)
- Mike Simpson (Idaho)
- Elise Stefanik (New York)
- Glenn Thompson (Pennsylvania)
- Mike Turner (Ohio)
- David Valadao (California)
- Derrick Van Orden (Wisconsin)
- Rob Wittman (Virginia)
- Steve Womack (Arkansas)
- Ryan Zinke (Montana)
Roll Call Vote Tally
Lawmakers voted on Part B Amendment No. 1 authored by Massie to H.R. 7148. The amendment failed on a recorded vote of 164 for to 268 against, with 160 Republicans and four Democrats supporting the legislation, according to the House Clerk.
The four Democrats were Representatives J. Luis Correa of California, Val Hoyle of Oregon, Marcy Kaptur of Ohio and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington.
The clerk’s tally listed the totals as yea 164, nay 268, present 0 and not voting 4.
What People Are Saying
Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky wrote on X:“Unfortunately, the amendment I offered to defund the federally mandated automobile kill switch did not pass. 57 Republicans joined 211 Democrats to defeat it.”
Clyde Wayne Crews of the nonprofit think tank Competitive Enterprise Institute said in a statement: “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.
“We must oppose this erosion of civil liberties and not set this precedent for government monitoring of everyday Americans. Kill switch technology will not be confined to one narrow purpose, no matter what its proponents believe or claim.”
Democratic Representative Debbie Dingell of Michigan, who voted against the amendment, said, per a news release by the nonprofit Mothers Against Drunk Driving: “Rep. Massie’s statements that impaired driving technology would track driver location, monitor driver performance, or enable cars to shut themselves down in the middle of the road are blatantly false and an intentional mischaracterization of the law. Massie’s amendment is an insult to every American who has been hurt by or lost loved ones to drunk driving. … We have the technology now to save lives and we should not delay in implementing it.”
What Happens Next
There is presently no federal motor vehicle safety standard in effect requiring advanced drunk and impaired driving prevention technology, meaning any future mandate would require further regulatory action unless Congress repeals the directive.
The No Kill Switches in Cars Act is still in committee and has not yet advanced past the first step.
By Newsweek – https://www.newsweek.com/kill-switch-cars-approved-house-republicans-full-list-11406341
