MATSUI BLASTS SENATE VOTE TO REPEAL CALIFORNIA’S CLEAN AIR ACT WAIVERS

WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07), Co-Chair of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition, released the following statement after Senate Republicans passed H.J.Res. 87, 88, and 89, overturning the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Air Act waivers for California’s Advanced Clean Trucks, Advanced Clean Cars II, and Heavy-Duty Low NOx Omnibus rules, effectively blocking these rules from being implemented. 

Senate Republicans forced through these dangerous and short-sighted attacks on California’s air pollution regulations despite clear and consistent warnings that these attacks constitute an unlawful abuse of the Congressional Review Act (CRA). Last month, the Government Accountability Office reiterated a 2023 decision that California’s Clean Air Act waivers are not subject to the CRA. The Senate Parliamentarian has affirmed this determination, ruling that the CRA cannot be used to overturn California’s waivers. Congresswoman Matsui strongly condemned Senate Republicans’ unprecedented and unlawful actions.  

“Despite clear rulings by the Government Accountability Office and the Senate Parliamentarian – Senate Republicans have chosen to abuse their power to illegally attack California’s right to set stronger air pollution standards,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “The science is clear – pollution kills. In my district and across our state, these emission standards are a matter of life and death. That’s why California has done the hard work to address the root causes of toxic air pollution and set strong, forward-looking standards. We have shown time and again that we can drive innovation while we protect families from harmful pollutants. Now Republicans want to drag us backward—all to help their polluter friends. This is an unprecedented assault on state authority, public health, and our fight against climate change.”

Congresswoman Matsui has spearheaded efforts in Congress calling for stronger emissions standards for cars and trucks. Under the first Trump Administration, the Congresswoman led opposition to then-President Trump’s attempts to revoke California’s pollution standards, and the Congresswoman successfully fought for the reinstatement of California’s authority under the Biden Administration.

In March of 2021, she led a letter with 70 of her colleagues urging the Biden Administration to take action to reinstate California’s Clean Air Act waiver and restore the Obama-Biden tailpipe emission and fuel economy standards. In July of 2021, she led a follow up letter with then Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone and 139 of her colleagues to reiterate the importance of reinstating the California Clean Air Act waiver.

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