Charleston Leader

U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito, Deb Fischer, and Markwayne Mullin have introduced joint resolutions of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act. These resolutions aim to repeal California's electric vehicle waivers that mandate the prohibition of new gas-powered light-duty vehicle sales by 2035. Additionally, the waivers impose strict requirements on heavy-duty trucks and diesel engines.

"By sending these rules to Congress, Administrator Zeldin and the Trump administration followed the law and addressed the Biden administration’s attempt to circumvent Congress in this process. California’s extreme EV mandate imposes unrealistic and stringent requirements, fails to meet the Clean Air Act’s requirements for a waiver, forces the hand of American consumers, and makes our country more reliant on China for critical minerals. The American people have made it clear that they want consumer choice – not an EV mandate. I will continue to address all options available to strike down these rules and eliminate the consequential impact they would make across our country,” said Chairman Capito.

Fischer commented, “As we saw under the Biden administration, what happens in California doesn’t stay in California. Their emissions regulation will cripple the truck manufacturing industry nationwide, overloading companies and truckers with expensive, heavy-handed requirements. This inevitably leads to increased prices for families across the nation. My resolution will overturn the Biden administration’s waiver allowing the ACT regulation to take effect without congressional review."

Mullin stated, “We cannot allow California’s costly and extreme Green New Deal agenda to bankrupt families and eliminate consumer choice for hundreds of millions of American families. Thankfully, after four years of ineffective one-size-fits-all crippling bureaucracy, the Trump administration is bringing back common sense. I’m grateful to my colleagues for partnering with me on this effort.”

In February 2024, Capito, Mullin, and other Republican legislators warned EPA Administrator Michael Regan about the potential legal and economic impacts of granting California's Clean Air Act waiver request. This waiver would mandate 35 percent of automobile sales to be zero-emission vehicles by 2026 and 100 percent by 2035. Later in December 2024, Capito committed to reversing the Biden administration's approval of California's waiver for the "Advanced Clean Cars II" regulation.

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