House Moves to Rescind California’s Emissions Standards

The U.S. House of Representatives reversed exemptions that allowed California to set its own emissions standards and target higher reduction goals than other states.

As Damien Newton explains in Streetsblog USA, “Because California was regulating air quality issues decades before the federal government, it is the only state that can get a waiver from the Feds to set more stringent standards.” 

The House took the action using the 1996 Congressional Review Act (CRA), which allows Congress a short window to review and revoke federal rules. Newton adds, “By using the CRA instead of simply having the Trump-led EPA revoke the waiver again, Republicans hope to end the back-and-forth over the waiver should the Democrats retake the White House.”

According to Newton, “If the Senate follows the House’s lead and California loses in court, it would be a disaster for the state’s plans to reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions.” Because other states were allowed to match California’s standards, the decision will have impacts far beyond California itself.