Republicans and Conservative Democrats Wage War against Clean Air
The federal Clean Air Act has preemption language barring states from passing motor vehicle emissions regulations stronger than the federal ones (a preemption clause that is harmful to the underlying cause of clean air and should not still be in existence).
However, California has special status that allows it to request waivers from this preemption in order to enforce stronger vehicle emissions standards.
The Biden administration rightly provided waivers for California regulations improving emissions standards for trucks and requiring that all new vehicles in the state to be zero-emission by 2035.
Despite the fact that the Senate’s parliamentarian ruled that the use of the Congressional Review Act to repeal these waivers is not valid because they are not federal regulations of their own (they are waivers), Republicans are moving forward to do the bidding of the fossil fuel industry and the auto industry’s laggards.
The House voted 231 to 191 to repeal the waiver for CA’s Clean Trucks rule.
Thirteen Democrats joined Republicans in voting for it: Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Henry Cuellar (TX-28) Don Davis (NC-01), Laura Gillen (NY-04), Jared Golden (ME-02), Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34), Susie Lee (NV-03), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03), Hillary Scholten (MI-03), Tom Suozzi (NY-03), and Gabe Vasquez (NM-02). One Republican — Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) — joined Democrats.
The House voted 225 to 196 to repeal the waiver for CA’s emissions standards for heavy-duty diesel engines.
Ten Democrats joined Republicans in voting for it: Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Henry Cuellar (TX-28) Don Davis (NC-01), Jared Golden (ME-02), Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34), Susie Lee (NV-03), Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03), Gabe Vasquez (NM-02), and Marc Veasey (TX-33). One Republican — Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) — joined Democrats.
The House voted 246 to 164 to repeal California’s waiver to require zero-emissions vehicles by 2035. 35 Democrats joined every present Republican in voting for it.
Here are the 35 Democrats:
