RSC Members Take Action to Lower Costs Driven by California's Climate Mandates

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the House of Representatives passed two Congressional Review Act (CRA) joint resolutions to challenge California environmental regulations that have driven up costs for American businesses and consumers.

H.J. Res. 213, introduced by RSC Member James Gallagher (CA-01), disapproves of a California rule that imposes costly requirements on vessel owners and operators in order to appease their radical environmental agenda. Rolling back these unnecessary regulations would lower costs for American families, strengthen supply chains, and better support America’s maritime industry.

H.J. Res. 210, introduced by Republican Study Committee (RSC) Member Vince Fong (CA-20), disapproves of California’s rule forcing container and cruise ships to adapt to their burdensome climate regulations. Failure to meet California’s standards would result in massive penalties that American consumers ultimately pay the price for.

Here’s what RSC Members had to say about rolling back these costly blue state climate regulations:

“California already makes just about everything more expensive, and its mandates on our maritime industry are more of the same. My Congressional Review Act resolution overturns the EPA waiver that gave CARB the green light to move forward with this costly harbor craft mandate. Rolling it back will help protect our supply chains and keep these costs from being passed along to American families. Enough is enough,” said Rep. James Gallagher (CA-01) on H.J. Res. 213. 

“We are one step closer to stopping an unelected state agency in California from increasing prices for consumers across the country, weakening our nation’s supply chains, and straining our regional fuel supply. California’s At Berth Regulation is unworkable and costly, putting some of our nation’s most productive ports – including the businesses and workers who rely on them – at a competitive disadvantage. It threatens West Coast energy security and disrupts the goods and services our economy relies on, forcing everyday families to pay the price at the checkout counter and the gas pump. My resolution is a commonsense solution to protect America's supply chains and prevent California’s actions from driving up costs for American families. I’m proud to lead the effort in the House and will work to get it passed in the Senate,” said Rep. Vince Fong (CA-20). 

“California’s ports are critical to moving goods across the country, and Sacramento shouldn’t be making that job even more expensive. I’m proud to stand with my colleagues to overturn this costly mandate and protect American families from paying the price for another bad California policy,” said Rep. James Gallagher (CA-01) on H.J. Res. 210.

“California’s leaders continue to choose partisan climate politics over economic opportunity and consumer choice. This onerous regulation will increase costs and further force out of the state the industries that sustain California. I support the efforts of my fellow Republican colleagues to repeal these mandates and restore commonsense energy policies to the state,” said Rep. Darrell Issa (CA-48).

“California has no business forcing costly, unworkable mandates onto fishermen, ferry operators, and maritime workers who keep our supply chains running. These waivers required technology that doesn't even reliably exist yet, all while sticking American families and small businesses with billions of dollars in costs. I'm proud to support H.J. Res. 210 and H.J. Res. 213 to stop California's unelected bureaucrats from forcing their radical agenda on the rest of the country, protect good-paying jobs, and keep costs down for hardworking Americans,” said Rep. Diana Harshbarger (TN-01).

“Families are already struggling as we bring our country back from the mess that Joe Biden created. They shouldn’t have to pay even more because of costly emissions mandates on the boats and ships that move goods and fuel across our country. These rules would hurt small businesses, fishermen, commuters, and critical supply chains, including fuel for our military. I was proud to vote to roll them back,” said Rep. Richard Hudson (NC-09).