Senate Moves to Overturn California Vehicle Emission Waivers

Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced that the Senate will move forward this week with resolutions using the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to overturn waivers granted by the EPA to California, allowing the state to enforce stricter vehicle emissions standards, including a 2035 ban on new gas-powered car sales. While the CRA allows Congress to overturn federal agency rules with a simple majority vote, there is significant controversy over whether California's waivers fall under CRA's scope, as both the Senate parliamentarian and the Government Accountability Office have ruled these waivers are not subject to the CRA. Despite this, Republican senators, led by Thune, are pushing to override the parliamentarian's determination, arguing that California's rules impose nationwide electric vehicle mandates and harm consumers and the economy. Democrats criticize this move as a violation of Senate rules and warn that overruling the parliamentarian could undermine the filibuster and Senate norms. The Biden administration restored California's authority to enforce its emissions standards after it had been revoked by the Trump administration, and about a dozen states have adopted similar standards following California's lead. The effort to block California's emissions policies highlights a broader partisan battle over environmental regulations and federal versus state authority.