EPA’s decision to allow California to ban new gas-powered cars by 2035 reversed after President Trump signs CRA resolution

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California’s green light from the Environmental Protection Agency to ban new gas-powered cars by 2035 was revoked after Congress passed a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution and President Trump signed it into law today. Two related resolutions were also signed into law.

Director of CEI’s Center for Energy and Environment Daren Bakst said:

“The cars we drive make it possible to easily get to where we need to be, from visiting our family, going to work, to seeing the doctor. Most Americans choose gas-powered cars for their transportation needs. Yet some climate extremists want to ban the sale of new gas-powered cars. This is exactly what California was doing with its Advanced Clean Cars II rule, banning the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035. This was no de facto ban; it was a full ban. For this rule to move forward, the Environmental Protection Agency had to give California the green light. The Biden EPA did just that, making it possible for California to ban gas cars and help this one state likely reshape the entire national automobile market.

“To its credit, Congress, in a bipartisan manner, passed a Congressional Review Act resolution rescinding EPA’s approval of the California gas car ban. Today, President Donald Trump signed this resolution into law, along with two other related resolutions. The importance of these actions shouldn’t be understated. If the climate extremists got their way, California’s rule would have helped to kill off gas cars and thereby limited consumer freedom, increased vehicle prices, and hurt the poor. Instead, by signing these resolutions into law, President Trump is defending individual freedom and recognizing that Americans, not state and federal bureaucrats, should decide what vehicles to drive.”

CEI Senior Fellow Marlo Lewis said:

“CEI applauds President Trump for signing three Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions of disapproval to overturn Biden administration Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) waivers greenlighting California’s plans to ban sales of gas- and diesel-powered cars and trucks. This is wonderful news for motor vehicle consumers, the US auto industry, and all liberty-loving Americans.

“Aided and abetted by the Obama and Biden administrations, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) was on its way to becoming the nation’s de facto Industrial Policy Czar for Climate and Cars. Moreover, California and its blue state allies were poised to exert cartel-like market power over the auto industry, increasing vehicle prices and decreasing consumer choices beyond their borders. President Trump thankfully ended an era of unlawful motor vehicle regulation, clearing the decks for a sea-change in national policy.

“Today’s action by President Trump terminates a long-running bureaucratic power grab that threatened to price millions of Americans out of the market for new cars, undermine US automakers’ competitiveness by forcing them to discontinue many of their best-selling models, and rob Americans of their freedom to purchase the types of vehicles that best meet their needs. Thanks to President Trump and Congress’s restoration of the rule of law, America is on the road to a more competitive auto industry, happier consumers, and a freer society.”

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CEI leads coalition letter supporting Senate CRA votes against EPA California waivers