Charleston Leader

U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito, Deb Fischer, and Markwayne Mullin have introduced joint resolutions under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to challenge California’s electric vehicle (EV) waivers. The resolutions aim to overturn regulations that would prohibit the sale of new gas-powered light-duty vehicles by 2035 and impose restrictive requirements for heavy-duty trucks and diesel engines.

Senator Capito highlighted, "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."

Senator Fischer echoed concerns about the nationwide impacts, stating, "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."

Additionally, Senator Mullin voiced opposition to the regulations, noting, "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.”

The background of this legislative move includes Senator Capito’s prior actions along with colleagues to caution against a Clean Air Act waiver request from California that could necessitate auto sales to shift toward zero-emission vehicles by 2035. Senator Capito had also previously committed to combatting the Biden administration’s approval of California’s Advanced Clean Cars II regulation.