The House of Representatives passed two resolutions on April 30 repealing waivers issued by the Biden administration to California, which allowed the state to impose zero-emission mandates and stringent emission regulations.
The proposals will now move on to the Senate, where they need to get approved before President Donald Trump can consider signing them.
CAA generally prohibits states from setting up their own tailpipe emission standards for trucks and cars. However, California can get an exemption if it submits a waiver to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and receives approval. The waiver enables the state to establish its own emissions regulations.
The two Congressional Review Act resolutions targeted two EPA waivers.
ACT sets zero-emission vehicle quotas for truck manufacturers and sellers. By 2035, 55 percent of Class 2B-3 trucks, 75 percent of Class 4-8 straight trucks, and 40 percent of tractor trucks sold in the state must be zero-emission.
The House passed H.J. Res. 87 in a 231–191 vote, thus repealing this EPA waiver.
The rule requires medium- and heavy-duty trucks and other engines to reduce their NOx emissions by 75 percent below the current standards for Model Year 2024–2026 vehicles. Particulate matter emissions also had to be reduced by 50 percent.
The House passed H.J. Res. 89 in a 225–196 vote, repealing this EPA waiver as well.
According to the statement from LaMalfa’s office, the issue with these waivers was that once California implemented the ACT and NOx rules, other states would follow suit and adopt the regulations under the Clean Air Act.
“Currently, about a dozen states follow California’s emissions policies, effectively turning the state’s regulations into a nationwide mandate,” LaMalfa’s office stated.
LaMalfa had also co-led another Congressional Review Act resolution, H.J. Res. 88, which seeks to repeal the EPA waiver allowing California to impose its Advanced Clean Cars II regulations that establish zero-emission mandates for new car sales. This is under consideration in the House.
The lawmaker called the California regulations a “direct assault” on people living and working in the state.
“These regulations drive up costs, limit consumer choice, and force trucking and automotive industries into an impossible transition timeline. Californians are already paying some of the highest fuel and energy costs in the country. These rules are causing the cost of new and used cars and trucks to increase for everyone,” LaMalfa said.
“If you want to buy an electric vehicle, buy one, but everybody else shouldn’t be forced into this mandate. The Federal Government cannot allow one state to destroy the American car and truck market.”
Raul Garcia, vice president of policy and legislation at Earthjustice, called the House vote a “reckless abuse” of the Congressional Review Act.
“While today’s vote is a short-term and symbolic victory for executives in the oil and gas industry, it won’t change the course of the country’s inevitable transition to healthy and efficient electric vehicles,” he said.
“Trucks today produce 99 percent fewer nitrogen oxide and particulate matter emissions than those on the road decades ago, and new trucks cut carbon emissions by over 40 percent compared to a truck manufactured in 2010,” the ATA stated.
“As a result, 60 of today’s trucks emit what just one truck did in 1988.”
ATA President and CEO Chris Spear said California must not be allowed to establish policies affecting interstate supply chains.
