House votes to block California from banning sales of gas cars by 2035

Source: Washington Post

The House voted Thursday to block California from enforcing a rule that would ban sales of new gasoline-powered cars in the state by 2035.

Lawmakers voted 246-164 to pass a resolution targeting the rule, which ranks as one of the nation’s most ambitious policies aimed at combating climate change and promoting electric vehicles. However, it is unclear whether the Senate will follow suit and send the measure to President Donald Trump’s desk.

In forging ahead with the vote, House Republicans sidestepped legal opinions from two nonpartisan watchdogs. The Senate parliamentarian and the Government Accountability Office have concluded that Congress lacks the legal authority to prevent states from enforcing such climate rules.

Under the Clean Air Act, California can receive a waiver from the Environmental Protection Agency to set tougher vehicle emissions standards than those of the federal government. California regulators approved a rule in 2022 that would phase out sales of new gas-powered cars by 2035, and in December under President Joe Biden, the EPA granted the state a waiver to enforce the regulation.

Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/house-votes-block-california-banning-153626939.html