Transportation

This bill proposes to reject a specific rule issued by the Environmental Protection Agency regarding pollution control standards for ocean-going vessels at ports in California. If passed, the measure would use a congressional veto to cancel the rule, preventing it from taking legal effect. The legislation directly impacts the EPA's ability to enforce these specific emission limits and affects shipping companies and ports in California that would have been subject to the new standards.

HRES 354 is a procedural resolution that sets rules for the House to vote on five separate disapproval resolutions (H.J. Res. 60, 78, 87-89). These disapproval resolutions aim to block specific federal agency rules: one from the National Park Service regarding motor vehicles in Glen Canyon, another from Fish & Wildlife on endangered smelt protections, and three from the EPA targeting California's vehicle emissions standards. The resolution streamlines debate and voting on these disapproval measures, waiving most procedural objections to allow direct consideration. If passed, the disapproval resolutions would cancel the agency rules, directly affecting how California implements vehicle pollution controls and wildlife protections. The bill itself does not change policy but enables Congress to block these specific regulations.

H.J. Res. 87 (Public Law 119-15) is a congressional disapproval resolution that prevents an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule from taking effect. The rule, submitted by the EPA on April 6, 2023 (88 Fed. Reg. 20688), related to California’s authority to enforce stricter vehicle emission standards, including for heavy-duty trucks, zero-emission airport shuttles, and advanced clean truck requirements. By disapproving this rule, Congress blocks California from implementing these specific pollution controls under its existing waiver authority. This directly affects California’s ability to regulate motor vehicle emissions independently, as the rule would have allowed the state to enforce its own standards beyond federal requirements.

H.J.Res. 88 disapproves an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that would have allowed California to enforce its "Advanced Clean Cars II" vehicle emission standards. This rule, submitted by the EPA on January 6, 2025, sought to grant California a waiver to override federal preemption for its stricter vehicle pollution controls. The resolution, passed by Congress and signed into law on June 12, 2025, formally nullifies the EPA rule, preventing California from implementing its Advanced Clean Cars II program under this specific waiver. The bill directly affects California's ability to set its own vehicle emission standards for passenger cars and light trucks.

HJRES 89 is a congressional disapproval resolution that blocks an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule concerning California's vehicle and engine pollution standards. The resolution specifically targets the EPA's "Omnibus Low NOX Regulation" and waiver of preemption, which would have allowed California to enforce stricter emissions rules. By disapproving this rule under Chapter 8 of Title 5 U.S. Code, Congress has nullified the EPA's action, meaning the regulation will have no legal effect. This directly affects the EPA's authority to approve California's state-level pollution control standards for motor vehicles.