Congress Must Reject Attack on Clean Air Protections for Port Communities

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congress is considering a slate of Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions that would roll back state clean air protections, including standards that cut toxic diesel pollution from ships and commercial harbor craft that will be voted on in the House this week. 

Repealing California’s longstanding maritime clean-air protection would force companies to burn more diesel, worsen pollution around our ports, and do nothing to help lower prices for consumers. 

A federal judge recently issued California a preliminary injunction blocking EPA’s actions targeting Clean Air Act preemption waivers previously granted to California.

The preliminary injunction ordered EPA to “restore the status quo” before announcing the reclassification of several clean air waivers. EPA unlawfully reclassified the waivers so Congress could attempt to repeal the waivers with an expedited process under the CRA.

In response, Sierra Club Climate Policy Director Patrick Drupp released the following statement:

“Congress should be making it easier, not harder, for communities to breathe clean air. Yet Republican lawmakers are once again using an extreme process to rip away state protections that are already reducing pollution and protecting people’s health.

“Repealing California’s maritime clean air waivers makes no sense. These protections have been at work for years, cutting dangerous pollution from ships and harbor craft in communities that live and work alongside some of the nation’s busiest ports. Congress should be building on that progress, not forcing port communities to breathe more pollution.

“Whether it’s ships at the dock or cars on the road, Americans deserve clean air and leaders who will protect their health, not roll back proven safeguards at the behest of polluters. Congress should reject these CRAs.”