House Republicans to Vote on Repealing California's 2035 Gasoline Vehicle Ban

The U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote next week on a Republican-backed proposal aimed at repealing the Biden administration's approval of California's plan to phase out the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035. The vote will center on revoking a waiver granted by the Environmental Protection Agency in December 2022, which allowed California to mandate that 80% of new car sales be electric by 2035. This regulation has been adopted by 11 other states, including New York, Massachusetts, and Oregon.

The proposal, led by House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, aims to overturn the Biden administration's efforts to promote electric vehicle adoption and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This move is part of a broader Republican strategy to challenge the administration's environmental policies, which they argue impose unnecessary burdens on consumers and the automotive industry.

The vote is expected to be closely watched, as it represents a significant test of the Republican Party's commitment to rolling back environmental regulations. If passed, the proposal would not only affect California but also the 11 other states that have adopted similar regulations. This could have far-reaching implications for the electric vehicle market, as these states collectively represent a significant portion of the U.S. car market.

The Biden administration has been a strong advocate for electric vehicles, viewing them as a key component of its climate change mitigation strategy. The administration has set a goal of achieving a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, with electric vehicles playing a crucial role in this effort. The repeal of California's regulation could hinder these efforts, as it would remove a major incentive for automakers to invest in electric vehicle technology.

One of the key issues is whether the U.S. Congress can utilize the Congressional Review Act to revoke the waiver. In March, the Government Accountability Office stated that, according to the Congressional Review Act, a majority vote in the Senate is required to revoke the waiver.

The U.S. House of Representatives also plans to vote on another waiver to prevent California from enforcing new pollution standards and increasing the number of zero-emission electric commercial trucks.

As a candidate, Trump had pledged to cancel the waiver granted by the Environmental Protection Agency under the Clean Air Act, requiring California to increase the number of electric vehicles and tighten vehicle emission standards.

California's regulations require that 35% of light-duty vehicles be zero-emission by the 2026 model year. Automakers have stated that this figure is not achievable based on current sales. By 2030, this figure will increase to 68%.

Toyota called on Congress last month to "stop California's unrealistic, impractical, and unachievable battery electric vehicle regulations."

California has stated that the regulation is crucial for achieving greenhouse gas reduction targets and reducing smog. Some states, such as Maryland, have delayed compliance with these regulations until after 2026.

In 2020, California first announced a plan requiring that at least 80% of new cars sold by 2035 be electric, with plug-in hybrid models making up no more than 20%.

The U.S. Department of Transportation is taking separate actions to revoke the aggressive fuel economy regulations passed by Biden.