House and Senate Republicans are introducing legislation Friday modifying the Clean Air Act of 1970 to revoke California’s authority to issue vehicle emissions rules that are stricter than federal rules.
The Stop California from Advancing Regulatory Burden Act, introduced by Rep. Troy Nehls (R., Texas) and Sen. Mike Lee (R., Utah), would immediately dismantle California’s efforts to mandate electric vehicles, electric trucks, and electric trains. Since California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D.) took office, the California Air Resources Board, the state’s main environmental regulator, has pursued dozens of Clean Air Act waivers as part of its climate-related efforts to slash the transportation sector’s emissions.
Newsom’s so-called California Climate Commitment plans to end reliance on fossil fuels, deploy green energy, cut greenhouse gas emissions 85 percent by 2045, and decrease oil demand by a staggering 94 percent.
The Republican bill would deal a significant blow to those plans and represent a major setback for the broader left-wing climate movement. It also aligns with President Donald Trump’s priorities to scrap electric vehicle mandates, boost consumer choice, and roll back regulations targeting fossil fuels.
The legislation could receive committee consideration in the coming weeks.
“The radical liberal state of California should never be able to govern for our great state of Texas,” Nehls said in a statement. “California should not be legislating for the rest of the country. My bill will ensure that California only governs California, not hard-working patriots in my district, by repealing California’s waiver.”
“California has abused the Clean Air Act’s waiver provision for years, essentially imposing ridiculous emission standards on the other 49 states,” added Lee. “Fortunately, the rest of the country isn’t governed by far-left extremists like California, and we shouldn’t have to answer to them. By putting an end to this overreach, our legislation will keep costs lower for hardworking American families, increase consumer choice, and restore economic freedom.”
Overall, the California Air Resources Board has more than 100 active federal waivers allowing it to set higher emissions standards than the Environmental Protection Agency. The Biden administration greenlit many of the state’s waivers as part of its own climate agenda.
But critics argue that the size of California’s economy means its emissions standards effectively preempt federal standards and force all states to comply. Automakers, for example, said California’s electric vehicle mandate—which bans new gas-powered cars by 2035 and which the Biden administration issued a waiver for—will depress economic activity, increase costs, and limit vehicle choice across the country.
In addition, under the Clean Air Act, other states can choose to adopt standards set by California and allowed via federal waiver—12 states and Washington, D.C., have adopted California’s electric vehicle mandate. The Stop California from Advancing Regulatory Burden Act would also axe that provision from the Clean Air Act.
“Americans rely upon gas-powered cars to reliably and affordability meet their mobility needs. Americans rely on trains to get us the goods that make modern life possible,” Daren Bakst, the director of the Competitive Enterprise Institute’s Center for Energy and Environment, said in a statement.
“Yet one state, California, would like to kill off gas-powered cars and severely hinder supply chains, and it is possible that such actions would not only be allowed within the borders of California, but across the country,” Bakst continued.
Industry groups American Petroleum Institute, Association of American Railroads, American Short Line and Railroad Association, and American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers endorsed the Stop California from Advancing Regulatory Burden Act.
Reps. Lauren Boebert (R., Colo.), Wesley Hunt (R., Texas), Scott Perry (R., Pa.), Eric Burlison (R., Mo.), Pete Sessions (R., Texas), and Derrick Van Orden (R., Wis.) are listed as cosponsors on the House version of the bill.
Sens. Bill Cassidy (R., La.), Pete Ricketts (R., Neb.), Roger Marshall (R., Kan.), Steve Daines (R., Mont.), James Risch (R., Idaho), Rick Scott (R., Fla.), Kevin Cramer (R., N.D.), Dan Sullivan (R., Alaska), Markwayne Mullin (R., Okla.), Mike Crapo (R., Idaho), Jim Justice (R., W.Va.), Shelley Moore Capito (R., W.Va.), and Ted Cruz (R., Texas) are listed as the bill’s Senate cosponsors.
