Republican Congressman Barry Moore, a candidate for the Alabama Senate seat with the coveted endorsement of former President Donald J. Trump, has launched a new legislative offensive against what he deems excessive environmental regulations. His target? The modern portable gas can.
The 'Freedom to Fuel Act' and a New Front in the Culture Wars
Forget gas-burning stoves; the latest battleground in America's culture wars could be the humble jerry can. Barry Moore, an avowed AR-15 enthusiast representing Alabama in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2021, introduced the 'Freedom to Fuel Act' last month. This legislation aims to exempt portable fuel containers from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations, which mandate anti-spill nozzles and sealed designs to limit emissions.
Why Modern Gas Cans Have Sparked Conservative Ire
These newer, slower-pouring cans, required under a 2007 EPA decision, have long frustrated small-government conservatives and some everyday users. The regulations were implemented to curb hydrocarbon emissions from an estimated 80 million gas cans nationwide, which the EPA identified as a significant source of toxic pollutants. However, critics argue the rules make simple tasks harder for farmers, construction crews, small businesses, and homeowners.
In a press release, Moore stated, "For years, farmers, construction crews, small businesses, and homeowners have been forced to use government-mandated, slow-pour, spill-prone gas cans that break easily and make simple tasks harder." He added that his act is "one more step toward eliminating outdated rules and bringing policy that makes the American people's lives easier back to Washington."
Trump's Endorsement and the Political Backdrop
Moore's push gained momentum last July when the Trump administration vowed to "Make Gas Cans Great Again by Improving Flow." Last month, Trump endorsed Moore's Senate bid on Truth Social, writing, "Barry Moore is a good friend, fighter, and WINNER, and has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next United States Senator from Alabama — BARRY WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!"
Senate Republicans have also proposed rolling back the EPA rules, praising vented gas cans as "the most trustworthy, reliable tool that people in this country use every day." Meanwhile, some Republicans are attempting to repeal the bipartisan Children's Gasoline Burn Prevention Act of 2008, designed to prevent child injuries from open gas cans.
The Environmental and Health Stakes
The EPA's 2007 report highlighted that gasoline fuels are highly volatile and evaporate easily from improperly sealed containers. It estimated gas cans were responsible for roughly 327,000 tons of hydrocarbon emissions, with a substantial portion due to owners leaving cans open. The non-profit outlet Inside Climate News noted that reducing these emissions was intended to protect public health.
As Moore campaigns for the Senate, his focus on gas can regulations underscores a broader partisan divide over environmental policy, consumer convenience, and the role of federal oversight in everyday life.
