House Votes to Block California’s Electric Vehicle Mandates
The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Thursday to prevent California from enforcing its ban on the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035. The vote, which passed 246-164, is part of a broader Republican effort to challenge California’s authority to set stricter environmental standards than federal limits.
This move is the latest in a series of actions by Republicans, who were joined by a handful of Democrats, to block California’s environmental policies. On Wednesday, lawmakers voted to stop California from requiring dealers to sell an increasing percentage of zero-emission trucks. They also voted to halt the state’s efforts to reduce smog levels.
California’s policies were implemented under permissions granted by the Biden administration, and they challenge the state’s long-standing authority under the 1970 Clean Air Act to set pollution standards that exceed federal limits. The legality of Congress’s actions is disputed, with the Senate parliamentarian and the Government Accountability Office ruling that Congress cannot revoke the waivers granted to California.
California leaders have condemned the House’s actions, promising a fight. Governor Gavin Newsom called the move “lawless” and an attack on states’ rights. “Trump Republicans are hellbent on making California smoggy again,” Newsom said in a statement. “Clean air didn’t used to be a political issue. The only thing that’s changed is that big polluters and the right-wing propaganda machine have succeeded in buying off the Republican Party.”
The controversy highlights the tension between California’s environmental policies and the Republican-led effort to roll back these initiatives. The outcome remains uncertain, with legal experts weighing in on the constitutionality of Congress’s actions.
