The U.S. Senate repealed three federal waivers that let California and other states that follow suit set pollution standards to improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Below is a statement by Steven Higashide, director of the Clean Transportation Program at UCS.
“It’s deeply disappointing that the Senate used the Congressional Review Act to block states from implementing air pollution standards to improve air quality. This illegitimate move poses threats to public health, the economy and states’ rights.
“For over 50 years, California has led the nation in improving air quality by setting strong air pollution standards, which other states have opted into. California has done this with authority provided by the Clean Air Act, which allows the state to apply for and receive waivers to set stricter air quality standards than the federal government. Both the Government Accountability Office and the Senate Parliamentarian determined that those waivers cannot be revoked through the Congressional Review Act, which lowers the threshold to rescind waivers from 60 to 50 votes. Senate Republicans ignored those rulings and moved forward, setting a dangerous precedent by disregarding the rulings of the Government Accountability Office, a non-partisan agency charged with monitoring Congress, and the Senate Parliamentarian, a non-partisan body charged with interpreting U.S. Senate rules and procedure.
“This overreach is bound to harm millions of people across the country. Over 150 million people in the United States are already exposed to unhealthy levels of air pollution. Vehicle emission standards are key to reducing that pollution. The standards are based on the best available science and were finalized with extensive public input. They are projected to significantly reduce climate warming emissions and air-pollution related illnesses and death. Revoking the waivers will increase pollution-related illnesses and premature deaths and slow down the electric vehicle transition crucial for protecting the planet.”