On Thursday (May 1), the U.S. House of Representatives passed a proposal with a vote of 246 to 164 to revoke the exemption granted by the previous administration to California’s 2035 ban on the sale of new gasoline cars, allowing buyers to make their own choices.
This is one of the three “Congressional Review Act” proposals introduced by Congressman Kevin Kiley from California’s 3rd District, aimed at rescinding the radical regulation that would ban the sale of new gasoline-powered cars, SUVs, and light trucks in California ten years from now.
The regulation was established by the California Air Resources Board in 2020, allowing for 20% of car sales to be plug-in hybrid vehicles. California then applied for a waiver from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to advance the plan. In 2023, the Biden administration approved the plan, but the latest vote in the House rejected California’s waiver, indicating that the ban in California is now in violation.
During the congressional meeting, Kelly explained the origins of the ban, stating, “On September 23, 2020, California was suffering from the worst wildfires in history, causing unimaginable hardships, with brave firefighters doing their best to contain the blaze. Governor Newsom announced back then that we are going to ban gas cars, which are causing more pollution to the air than the wildfires.”
In August 2020, California experienced four major wildfires – the North Complex Fire, August Complex Fire, LNU Lightning Complex Fire, and SCU Lightning Complex Fire; followed by the Creek Fire in September, with a total burned area of nearly 2.5 million acres.
“Governor trying to shift blame,” Kelly said, “NPR found in an investigation that Newsom inflated his wildfire work by 690%, and also cut $150 million from the fire prevention budget.”
Regarding the regulation on selling gas-powered cars, Kelly outlined three facts: “It has never been voted on in Sacramento (the California Legislature) and in Washington, D.C. (Congress); it does have a nationwide impact; and it doesn’t just affect the future, 35% of California’s mandate will come into effect next year.”
He believed urgent action must be taken to democratically reverse the imposed policy, stating that “This is one of the most important things this Congress has done, it will lower costs, restore common sense, and bring back the model of consumer choice.”
“I also like electric cars, drive an electric car myself, it suits my area of residence and lifestyle, but I would never want to use government coercion to impose my personal consumption preferences on others,” Kelly stated, emphasizing that Americans should be able to drive the cars they choose.
The three review proposals aim to overturn previous exemptions by the Environmental Protection Agency, namely H.J. Res. 87 “California Mandatory Sale of Zero-Emission Trucks,” H.J. Res. 88 “California Ban on Sale of New Gas-Powered Cars in 2035,” and H.R. Res. 89 “California Implement Latest Nitrogen Oxide (Nox) Engine Emission Standards.” Co-sponsors include House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie from Kentucky and members of Congress from California, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.
Kelly hopes that the resolution will gain bipartisan support to prevent California’s political frenzy from spreading nationwide. He stated, “I believe in the future of clean energy, driven by entrepreneurs and innovators, not flashy politicians.”
According to a press release by Kelly on April 3, Guthrie stated, “Since California first attempted to create a de facto electric vehicle mandate, the committee has been dedicated to addressing this issue. We will continue to oppose far-left policies that harm consumers and work to ensure that the Congressional Review Act process ultimately addresses these issues.”
Congressman Jay Obernolte from California’s 23rd District stated that the cumbersome regulations by the California Air Resources Board are being enforced, “harming the interests of businesses and hard-working Americans.” He believed that Congress must exercise oversight to ensure these policies do not become national standards, in order to protect employment, supply chains, and consumer choice.
Congressman Doug LaMalfa from California’s 1st District said that “California’s comprehensive and unattainable emission regulations directly harm everyone living, working, or doing business in the state,” as these regulations increase costs and restrict consumer choice. He argued that Californians already face leading fuel and energy costs in the nation, and the federal government should not allow one state to destroy the U.S. car and truck market, stating, “we cannot make life more expensive.”
California’s gasoline and electricity prices are among the highest in the U.S., largely due to policies promoted by California, high taxes, restrictions on oil and refinery operations, and standards. Two companies recently announced struggles to sustain and plan to close refineries in California, which will lead to further increases in gasoline prices.
California Democratic Governor Newsom issued a statement on the same day, claiming that the House of Representatives unlawfully restricts California’s clean car initiative, “plunging California into smog again.”
“Big polluting corporations and right-wing propaganda machines have successfully bought off Republican lawmakers, and the House is using means even some senators consider illegal,” the press release stated, mentioning that the vehicle project helps clean the air, and California will continue to defend it, “Washington may want to hand our economy over to China, but California will always support American innovation.”
The California Air Resources Board was established during Governor Reagan’s tenure and the Nixon administration allowed California to set necessary standards. Since the passage of the 1970 Clean Air Act, the EPA has granted California over a hundred waivers.
Newsom also noted that California is an authority in the field of clean energy, stating that last year California operated with 100% clean power for 51 days, with the grid running on 100% clean energy for two out of every three days at certain times. Since he took office, battery storage capacity has increased by over 13,000 megawatts, a growth of over 1,600%.
He mentioned that five out of the top 10 cities with the worst air pollution in the U.S. are in California. In the San Joaquin Valley and Los Angeles areas, asthma and respiratory disease rates are high, with around 10 million Californians living in environments deemed “severely unhealthy” for ozone. Progress in zero-emission vehicles is still needed to achieve California’s air quality goals and protect residents.
However, the results of the vote on the 1st indicated that among the 246 supporters in the House to repeal the ban, there were multiple Democratic party lawmakers.