The big picture:
A hearing was held September 14 by the House Committee on Rules during the 119th Congress. Its agenda included H.J. Res. 210, concerning ocean-going vessels at berth, and H.J. Res. 213, concerning commercial harbor craft.
The Clean Air Act generally preempts states from setting their own emissions standards, while allowing the EPA administrator to grant waivers under specified conditions. Other states may adopt California regulations after a waiver is granted, giving the decisions implications beyond California.
The hearing also included the National Fraud Enforcement Division Act of 2026, the Preventing Rip-offs and Obtaining Oversight of Funds Act, the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, and a measure titled the Protecting Taxpayers from Health Care Fraudsters Act.
What they’re saying:
Rep. Gary Palmer testified in support of two Congressional Review Act resolutions of disapproval. He said the Energy and Commerce Committee had worked the previous year to nullify Biden administration actions that enabled California to adopt environmental policies.
He said H.J. Res. 210 would overturn a waiver covering emissions from ships berthed at California ports, while H.J. Res. 213 would disapprove a waiver covering commercial fishing boats, ferries and tugboats.
Rep. James P. McGovern said the agenda included additional fraud legislation, resolutions overturning environmental rules, a measure he described as raising gas and diesel prices, and a bill sanctioning Russia and Iran. He said the agenda included “resolutions overturning environmental rules” and argued that the Clean Air Act had helped reduce pollution, smoke and smog.
McGovern also said inflation had risen from about 3 percent when President Donald Trump was sworn in to 3.4 percent at the time of his remarks. He said Chevron announced its highest quarterly profits in six years in July and that refiners were benefiting from wider margins as global fuel supplies tightened.
Political stakes:
The dispute places California’s waiver authority and federal environmental policy in the same procedural package as fraud enforcement and Russia-Iran sanctions legislation. Palmer said the harbor-craft rules effectively extended electric-vehicle and zero-emission mandates to vessels operating in California harbors.
What’s next:
H. Res. 1530 would provide for consideration of H.R. 9576, H.R. 10326, H.J. Res. 210 and H.J. Res. 213 under a closed rule with one hour of debate.
Three committee amendments were included in the meeting documents, sponsored by Representatives James P. McGovern, James P. McGovern and Mary Gay Scanlon.
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