Freedom to Fuel Act

H.R. 7000, the Freedom to Fuel Act, would amend the Clean Air Act to exclude portable fuel containers from federal emissions standards. Currently, the EPA regulates evaporative emissions from portable fuel containers such as gas cans to limit harmful air pollutants. If enacted, this bill would remove those regulatory requirements for these products. Supporters argue that current regulations have made gas cans slower-pouring and more prone to spills, and that exempting them would reduce compliance costs and improve product functionality. Opponents contend that portable fuel containers contribute significantly to air pollution when considered cumulatively, and that the regulations help protect public health by reducing exposure to toxic chemicals like benzene found in gasoline vapors. The bill is currently under consideration by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.