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House Votes to Block California EV Rule

The U.S. House passed two resolutions to block EPA waivers that allowed California to require EV sales.

Last night, the U.S. House of Representatives passed two resolutions that would revoke waivers granted to California by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to mandate sales of electric vehicles (EV).

 

Congressman John James (R-MI) introduced H.J. Resolution 87. This resolution would revoke the waiver allowing California and other states to enforce their Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) regulations. ACT requires medium- and heavy-duty truck manufacturers to sell increasing percentages of zero-emission vehicles from 2024-2035. H.J. Resolution 87 passed the House by a vote of 231-191.

 

Congressman Jay Obernolte (R-CA) introduced H.J. Resolution 89. This resolution would revoke the waiver allowing California and other states to enforce their Low NOx Omnibus rule. This rule, which has already been adopted by 10 states, imposes strict emissions standards on new truck sales. H.J. Resolution 89 passed the House by a vote of 225-196.

 

TRALA has been speaking to individual Members and staff over the last few months about the ability to revoke these waivers through the Congressional Review Act and applauds the House's actions last night. National emissions policy should not be allowed to emanate from a single state such as California, but rather must be deliberated in Congress and enacted by the federal government. Environmental policies should also be technology-neutral and not force a one-size-fits-all approach.

 

TRALA urges the US Senate to follow the House's lead and pass both resolutions immediately to bring sanity back to environmental policy.