California car emissions debate turns ugly as Republicans go ‘nuclear’

California car emissions have recently gained grounds for debate as Trump-led Republicans seek to take authority off the city to put up its stricter emission standards which has stirred up outrage among Californians.

California has long been recognized as a national leader in environmental protection.

This is particularly for implementing rigorous emissions standards for vehicles that surpass federal regulations.

The city’s leadership has significantly influenced the automotive industry, resulting in cleaner, more fuel-efficient, and increasingly electric vehicles across the United States.

However, this progress is now under threat due to efforts by Donald Trump and his Republican allies to revoke California’s longstanding authority to set its own stricter emissions standards.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets nationwide emissions and smog standards for cars and trucks.

Under the Biden administration, these standards were recently strengthened.

Officials argued the changes would save American drivers substantial amounts in fuel and maintenance costs over a vehicle’s lifetime.

However, California has had special permission for decades to go beyond these federal rules.

This is due to its severe air pollution problems, issues that disproportionately affect communities of color and are linked to various health risks.

Recently, Republican lawmakers in the House of Representatives voted to repeal the EPA waivers that allow California to enact stricter standards.

On Wednesday, the Senate advanced similar efforts using the Congressional Review Act (CRA).

The CRA is a legislative tool that lets Congress overturn federal agency actions with a simple majority vote.

This process bypasses the usual 60-vote threshold needed to overcome a filibuster in the Senate, making it easier for the majority party to act.

Democrats have fiercely criticized this move, calling it a “nuclear” option and arguing that using the CRA in this context is both unprecedented and illegal.

The Government Accountability Office and the Senate parliamentarian have both stated that EPA waivers are not subject to the CRA’s provisions.

In a joint statement, Democratic Senators Alex Padilla, Sheldon Whitehouse, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer warned that revoking these waivers would harm public health.

They also said it would worsen air quality for millions of Americans.

Kathy Harris, director of clean vehicles at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), emphasized that California’s authority to set its own emissions rules has existed for nearly 60 years.

The state has been granted more than 75 such waivers under both Republican and Democratic presidents.

These waivers have allowed California to require an increasing share of electric vehicles in new car and truck sales.

It has also allowed the city to push automakers to develop progressively cleaner vehicles.

Harris described these waivers as a “quadruple win,” benefiting public health, air quality, consumers, and the economy.

She warned that revoking California’s authority would immediately lead to higher pollution levels on the nation’s roads.

She also noted that this move directly threatens California’s ability to control health-damaging air pollutants.

According to the California Air Resources Board, more than a dozen states follow California’s emissions standards.

These now reportedly apply to nearly 40% of new light-duty vehicle registrations and more than a quarter of heavy-duty trucks nationwide.

Automakers generally follow California’s standards, as the state represents the world’s fourth-largest economy.

In 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom further advanced the state’s environmental agenda by announcing a ban on the sale of all new gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035.

Eleven other states have adopted similar targets. President Joe Biden’s administration approved this plan near the end of his term.

However, Trump has vowed to undo these policies, describing California’s vehicle rules as extreme.

“I will terminate that,” he said during his campaign.

Newsom responded strongly, framing the issue as a turning point for both the U.S. car industry and public health.

“The United States Senate has a choice,” he said in a statement.

“Cede American car-industry dominance to China and clog the lungs of our children, or uphold the clean-air policies that Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon supported.”

He challenged Senate Republicans to choose between siding with American innovation or foreign interests.

The Senate’s late-night procedural votes on Wednesday to move forward with limiting California’s authority could have far-reaching consequences beyond state lines.

Harris reflected on historical images showing thick smog in U.S. cities during the 1960s, before the Clean Air Act improved air quality.

She compared those scenes to today’s wildfire smoke, emphasizing how far the country has come, and how easily those gains could be reversed.

The American Lung Association recently found Los Angeles remains the smoggiest city in the U.S., a reminder that the fight for clean air is not over.

“We’ve forgotten what our air used to look like,” Harris said.

“We take it for granted now. But there’s still a long way to go, and these policies are crucial for keeping us on the right path.”

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