The House of Representatives voted on Wednesday to significantly curtail California’s ability to impose stricter vehicle emission standards. However, the bill’s future in the Senate remains uncertain. The legislation, authored by Republicans, reflects their stance that California’s stringent emission rules are overly bureaucratic. Representative Kevin Kiley, a Republican from Roseville, stated that the aim is “to stop a single individual, Gavin Newsom, from dictating what tens of millions of Californians and other Americans are allowed to drive,” according to The Sacramento Bee.
The House approved two bills targeting California’s emission standards. One bill, passed with a 225 to 196 vote, challenges the state’s nitrogen oxide engine emission standards, which some lawmakers argue are burdensome for heavy-duty engines. Another bill, passed 231 to 191, seeks to reverse California’s mandate for truck manufacturers to sell zero-emission trucks.
Despite the House’s actions, the Senate has already blocked a fast-track repeal of California’s 2035 gas car ban, as reported by Autoblog. The Senate parliamentarian’s ruling prevents the use of the Congressional Review Act to revoke California’s waiver under the Clean Air Act, which allows the state to set its own vehicle emissions standards.
California’s policies have significant implications due to the size of its economy and auto market. While some see these policies as setting de facto national standards, others, like Representative Brett Guthrie, argue that “Americans should be able to drive a car of their choice, not one that is chosen for them by the government.”
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