HJRES 87119th CongressBecame Law

Providing congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "California State Motor Vehicle and Engine Pollution Control Standards; Heavy-Duty Vehicle and Engine Emission Warranty and Maintenance Provisions; Advanced Clean Trucks; Zero Emission Airport Shuttle; Zero-Emission Power Train Certification; Waiver of Preemption; Notice of Decision".

Introduced: Apr 2, 2025

Environment & Climate

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

This joint resolution uses the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to disapprove a specific Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule. If enacted and signed into law, it would void the EPA’s April 6, 2023 rule titled “California State Motor Vehicle and Engine Pollution Control Standards; Heavy-Duty Vehicle and Engine Emission Warranty and Maintenance Provisions; Advanced Clean Trucks; Zero Emission Airport Shuttle; Zero-Emission Power Train Certification; Waiver of Preemption; Notice of Decision.” In effect, Congress would block that rule from taking effect and prevent it from having force or effect. The EPA rule in question concerns California’s authority under the Clean Air Act to set stricter motor vehicle emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles and related programs (including warranty/maintenance provisions, Advanced Clean Trucks, zero-emission initiatives for airport shuttles, and issues related to preemption waivers). By disapproving it, Congress would maintain the status quo and negate the federal rule’s actions on those California-specific standards and preemption decisions.

Key Points

1What the bill does: It provides congressional disapproval under the CRA of the EPA rule described above, effectively preventing the rule from taking effect.
2The rule being disapproved: The EPA rule published in 88 Federal Register 20688 (April 6, 2023) addressing California’s motor vehicle and engine pollution standards for heavy-duty vehicles, accompanying warranty/maintenance provisions, Advanced Clean Trucks, Zero Emission Airport Shuttle, Zero-Emission Power Train Certification, and the Waiver of Preemption/Notice of Decision.
3Scope of impact: The rule would have affected California’s ability to enforce stricter state standards and the EPA’s determinations about preemption waivers; disapproval nullifies those provisions as a matter of federal law.
4Mechanism: Under the CRA, a joint resolution passed by Congress and signed by the President would remove the rule from the Federal Register and make it as if it never existed; if not enacted, the rule could take effect.
5Status and sponsor: The bill is introduced as H.J.Res.87 in the 119th Congress; sponsor is listed as Unknown and its status is Introduced.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected: Automakers and heavy-duty vehicle manufacturers, especially those who would be subject to California-only emissions standards and related programs.Secondary group/area affected: California and other states that have adopted or aligned with California’s stricter emission standards; regulatory and compliance communities involved in vehicle emissions, warranties, and maintenance programs.Additional impacts: Environmental policy dynamics (how much authority states vs. federal government have over vehicle emissions), potential effects on industry planning and investments in clean technologies, and potential shifts in interstate regulatory alignment depending on how the CRA action plays out.The CRA provides a mechanism for Congress to roll back a federal rule within a specific congressional window. If this joint resolution becomes law, the EPA rule would have no force or effect, and the status quo prior to the rule would largely be maintained.

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