For nearly 50 years, California has had the authority to establish vehicle pollution standards that are at least as protective as the federal standards. States have had the explicit right granted under the Clean Air Act to protect their residents’ health. 

Stripping states of their authority to set stronger vehicle pollution standards puts public health at risk, allows for fossil fuel price volatility at the pump, limits innovation, and will put thousands of jobs at risk. These critical clean air standards, previously approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), are essential. About 1 out of 5 Americans dies prematurely due to the production and usage of fossil fuels. Preventing the enforcement of these rules will also allow more than 1.6 billion metric tons of climate-harming emissions to be spewed into the air.

The clean vehicle transition is underway. Companies have been investing billions of public and private sector funds in job-creating factories – primarily in areas like North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Michigan, and Arizona. 

More upheaval and uncertainty in federal policies would hurt local economies and could directly impact markets. These CRAs would leave domestic manufacturing behind while damaging the health of millions around the world. It will also disrupt the supply chain for critical minerals, which are essential to our national security. 

Every state has the right to lead on strong clean transportation laws. Blocking state authority to set stronger car and truck standards using the California standard is viewed as a legal violation of State Constitutional Authority to set their own climate laws, as per the Tenth Amendment of the Constitution.

The undersigned elected officials strongly support California’s preemption of Advanced Clean Cars II, Heavy-Duty Omnibus, and Advanced Clean Trucks waivers being upheld. 

Sincerely yours,

Members, Elected Officials to Protect America