Congress Moves to Block California’s Advanced Clean Cars II Standards
What’s Happening?
Congress is considering a resolution (H.J. Res. 88) that aims to block a rule issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that allows California to set its own, stricter vehicle emission standards. This is a significant move that could impact the future of clean car technology and efforts to combat climate change in the United States.
Understanding the Players and the Rule
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California’s Unique Role: California has a long history of setting its own, often more stringent, air pollution standards for vehicles. This stems from the state’s severe air quality problems, particularly in major urban areas. The Clean Air Act allows California to request waivers from the EPA to implement these stricter standards. Other states can then choose to adopt California’s standards, effectively creating a larger market for cleaner vehicles.
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Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II): The rule at the center of this debate is California’s “Advanced Clean Cars II” (ACC II) regulation. This rule sets ambitious targets for phasing out the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles in California, requiring all new cars sold in the state to be zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) – primarily electric vehicles (EVs) – by 2035.
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EPA’s Role: The EPA is responsible for granting or denying California’s waiver requests. In this case, the EPA granted California’s waiver, allowing the state to proceed with its ACC II standards.
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Congressional Disapproval: H.J. Res. 88 is a “resolution of disapproval.” Under the Congressional Review Act, Congress can overturn certain agency rules with a simple majority vote in both the House and Senate, followed by the President’s signature (or a veto override).
Why is Congress Trying to Block the Rule?
Opponents of the EPA’s decision and California’s ACC II standards raise several concerns:
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Economic Impact: They argue that the mandate for EVs is too aggressive and will increase the cost of vehicles, making them less accessible to lower-income consumers. They also express concern about the impact on the auto industry and the availability of charging infrastructure.
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Consumer Choice: Critics argue that the rule restricts consumer choice by limiting the availability of gasoline-powered vehicles. They believe consumers should be free to choose the type of vehicle that best suits their needs and budget.
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Federalism Concerns: Some argue that the EPA’s decision infringes upon states’ rights and gives California too much power in setting national vehicle emission standards.
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Reliability of the Electric Grid: Some lawmakers and organizations are worried about the impact that millions of electric vehicles will have on the electric grid and power generation.
What are the Arguments in Favor of Allowing California’s Standards?
Supporters of California’s ACC II standards and the EPA’s waiver highlight the following:
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Environmental Benefits: They emphasize the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector, which is a major contributor to climate change. They argue that transitioning to EVs is crucial for achieving climate goals.
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Public Health: They point to the benefits of cleaner air, particularly in urban areas, resulting from reduced emissions from gasoline-powered vehicles.
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Innovation and Job Creation: Proponents believe that the mandate for EVs will drive innovation in the auto industry and create new jobs in the EV sector.
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Following Market Trends: Supporters of the waiver argue that more and more people are looking for Electric Vehicles, and that California is simply responding to market trends.
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Leading by Example: Supporters believe that if California succeeds in the ACC II standards, then other states will follow suit.
What Happens Next?
H.J. Res. 88 has to pass both the House and the Senate. Then, if Congress approves the resolution, it goes to the President for their signature. If the President signs it, the EPA’s rule granting California the waiver is overturned. If the President vetoes it, Congress would need a two-thirds majority in both houses to override the veto.
Impact and Implications
The outcome of this congressional action could have significant implications:
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If the resolution passes: California would be prevented from implementing its ACC II standards. Other states that have adopted California’s standards would also be affected. This could slow down the transition to EVs and make it harder to meet climate goals.
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If the resolution fails: California would be able to proceed with its ACC II standards. Other states could continue to adopt these standards, potentially accelerating the transition to EVs across the country.
In simple terms: This is a fight over the future of cars and the environment. Congress is debating whether to allow California to set its own rules for cleaner cars, which could have a big impact on the types of vehicles we drive and the air we breathe.
The AI has delivered the news.
The following question was used to generate the response from Google Gemini:
At 2025-05-30 01:54, ‘H.J. Res. 88 (ENR) – Providing congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to California State Motor Vehicle and Engine Pollution Control Standards; Advanced Clean Cars II; Waiver of Preemption; Notice of Decision.’ was published according to Congressional Bills. Please write a detailed article with related information in an easy-to-understand manner. Please answer in English.
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