Republican Lawmaker Introduces Bill Targeting California’s Long-Standing Waiver, Already Fully Implemented
On July 20, Republican Representative Harriet Hageman introduced legislation in Washington, D.C., seeking to revoke California’s Clean Air Act waiver for vehicle greenhouse gas emissions through the Congressional Review Act. The waiver permits California to enforce vehicle emission standards stricter than federal requirements, a policy now fully implemented and affecting millions of cars and trucks nationwide. The Sierra Club, an environmental organization, issued a statement the same day condemning the move as "Congressional Republicans prioritizing Big Oil’s profits over the health and wallets of American families."
Hageman’s bill targets California’s long-standing authority to set its own stricter vehicle emission standards. With California’s greenhouse gas regulations already in full effect, compliant vehicles have been on the road for years and have become a model for other states. Patrick Drupp, the Sierra Club’s Climate Policy Director, warned that revoking the waiver would create policy uncertainty for these vehicles and weaken states’ ability to protect residents from vehicle pollution.
In his statement, Drupp emphasized that California’s waiver has improved air quality, driven automotive innovation, and saved drivers money on fuel costs for decades. He criticized Congressional Republicans for "wasting time attacking states’ rights to cleaner air just to cater to an anti-clean car political agenda," adding that revoking the waiver would not make cars more affordable but could instead worsen climate change and health risks. The Sierra Club vowed to continue defending California’s and other states’ environmental autonomy through legal and advocacy efforts.