Congress improperly used the Congressional Review Act to cause human suffering
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5/01/25
MEDIA CONTACT: Edder Díaz Martínez, Communications Manager, GreenLatinos, [email protected], 602-832-6039
WASHINGTON—On April 30 and May 1 the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass Congressional Review Act (CRA) Resolutions of Disapproval that seek to block U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) waivers for cleaner cars and cleaner trucks standards.
On April 30, the House passed H.J. Res 87, an order to repeal the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) waiver and H.J. 89 to repeal the Heavy-Duty Omnibus (HDO) preemption waivers. These votes were followed by a vote on May 1 to repeal Advanced Clean Cars II.
Since the 1960s, California has had the authority to establish vehicle pollution standards that are stronger than federal standards. Since 1977, other states have had the right, granted under an amendment to the Clean Air Act, to choose California’s standards.
In response, GreenLatinos Policy Advisor Andrea Marpillero-Colomina issued the following statement:
“The House voted against the best interests of the people living in this country – blocking measures to reduce air pollution and protect human health from cars and trucks tailpipe pollution.
ACT, HDO, and Advanced Clean Cars II rules help mitigate vehicle pollution.
The rules are already in effect in California, and have been adopted or are being considered in additional states.
Cars and trucks are the largest source of ozone and particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution, which triggers asthma attacks, causes heart attacks and strokes, and is linked to cancer, lung disease, and premature deaths. The passing of these CRA resolutions removes protections for millions living in communities with unhealthy pollution levels.
The vote also improperly used the CRA, which doesn’t apply to the EPA waiver approvals. This overreach and abuse of power sets a dangerous precedent.
There is no gray area here – except for the additional harms from pollution these votes will cause.”
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About GreenLatinos
GreenLatinos (NOTE: GreenLatinos is ONE WORD) is an active comunidad of Latino/a/e leaders, emboldened by the power and wisdom of our culture, united to demand equity and dismantle racism, resourced to win our environmental, conservation, and climate justice battles, and driven to secure our political, economic, cultural, and environmental liberation.
