Senate Votes Nullify California’s Electric Vehicle Mandates
Washington— The American Trucking Associations hailed the recent Senate votes to nullify California’s electric vehicle requirements as a “monumental victory” for the trucking sector, practicality, and consumers across the country.
“California has become a hub for ineffective public policy, and it’s time for national leadership in Washington to stop relinquishing authority to unelected bureaucrats in Sacramento who lack real-world experience. Today’s Senate votes send a clear message that this nation is not the United States of California, nor will it ever be,” stated ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “We are grateful for the support of President Trump, EPA Administrator Zeldin, and members of Congress who heard our concerns and took decisive action to overturn these harmful regulations, which would have severely impacted our industry and inflicted economic hardship on American families and businesses that we serve.”
The Senate approved two resolutions today aimed at reversing detrimental regulations imposed by California and preventing the state from dictating national vehicle policies. Last month, ATA urged House and Senate Republican leaders to bring these resolutions to a vote. Having already passed in the House, the measures are now headed to the President for approval.
One resolution, led by Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska), will revoke an EPA waiver that permitted California and other states to implement its Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) regulation. This regulation, adopted by 11 states, mandates that medium- and heavy-duty truck manufacturers increase the percentage of zero-emission vehicles sold between 2024 and 2035.
The other resolution, spearheaded by Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma), will rescind a waiver that allowed California and other states to enforce the Low NOx Omnibus rule. Adopted by 10 states, this rule imposes strict emissions standards on new truck sales. Both mandates are disconnected from reality and would have incurred exceptionally high costs if fully enforced. Even states that adopted these standards are now acknowledging the practical challenges by scaling back and postponing their implementation.
Today’s trucks emit 99% less nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate matter compared to those from previous decades. Furthermore, new trucks cut carbon emissions by over 40% when compared to those manufactured in 2010. In fact, 60 of today’s trucks produce the same emissions as just one truck did back in 1988.
“The trucking industry is filled with innovators. We do not require government mandates to minimize our environmental footprint—we have been achieving this for the past forty years, all while successfully transporting an increasing share of essential goods for Americans,” concluded Spear. The resolutions approved by Congress will reaffirm the EPA’s role as the leading authority for establishing realistic, nationwide emissions standards and will prevent California from enacting similar regulations in the future.
