WASHINGTON (September 15, 2026)—This week, the U.S. House is planning to vote on revoking two Clean Air Act waivers that enable policies to reduce California port pollution.
Below is a statement from Sam Wilson, a senior vehicles analyst in the Clean Transportation Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).
Lana Cohen
“Congress should reject efforts to illegally revoke California’s Clean Air Act waivers for its strong At-Berth and Commercial Harbor Craft protections. These programs are among the most cost-effective and technologically feasible tools California has for working toward improving air quality in port regions, protecting the health of portside residents and meeting federal air quality standards. They also push the United States to stay at the cutting edge of clean shipping technology as major shipping nations race to build cleaner, more efficient ports and next-generation vessels.
“The maritime programs have already helped ports and vessels significantly reduce emissions, including heat-trapping and regional air pollutants, while reducing cancer risk for people living nearby. Revoking the waivers that enable these programs would force California ports and maritime businesses to absorb the costs of what would be an abrupt policy change, leaving them with significant stranded assets and lost revenue.
“This move by federal lawmakers is a clear handout to fossil fuel companies and international shippers with costs that will ultimately fall on local governments and California communities already struggling with the affordability crisis. Revoking these protections would undermine investments already made to clean up port pollution, put public health at risk and shift the costs of pollution from deep-pocketed multinational corporations onto Californians.”