Note: This press release was provided by the Maryland House Republican Caucus
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Maryland House Republicans today applauded the actions of the United States House of Representatives in their passage of House Joint Resolution 87 (HJR 87) and House Joint Resolution 88 (HJR 88), which will withdraw the California waivers to the Clean Air Act, ending the coming ban on the sale of gasoline-powered vehicles in California and other states, including Maryland.
“Electric vehicle mandates do not work, have tremendous costs to our citizens and our economy, and are not supported by the vast majority of car buyers,” said House Minority Leader Jason Buckel. “California’s extremist policies are not good for Maryland, and we are hopeful that Congress will completely remove the ability of far-left state legislators in the thrall of ‘big green’ activist groups, which comprise a tiny minority of Marylanders and Americans in general, to create these absurd and unrealistic mandates and goals.”
Maryland first adopted the California Clean Cars standard in 2007. Governor Wes Moore adopted the California Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) and the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rules in 2023. Under the ACC II rules, by 2035, all new passenger cars, trucks, and SUVs sold in Maryland must be zero-emission. Under the ACT, by 2035, Maryland’s zero-emission truck sales must comprise 55% of medium and heavy-duty pickup truck and van sales, 75% of box truck sales, and 40% of truck tractor sales. In April, Governor Moore issued an Executive Order delaying Maryland’s enforcement of these standards for two years.
On January 29, Maryland House Republican leaders sent a letter to the Trump Administration requesting that the Environmental Protection Agency rescind California’s waiver, which allows the state to set more stringent emissions regulations under the Clean Air Act.
On February 14, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin sent California’s waiver to Congress for repeal under the Congressional Review Act. HJR 87 repeals the California waiver on Advanced Clean Trucks, and HJR 88 repeals the waiver on Advanced Clean Cars.
“By tying our emissions standards to California, the majority party attempted to ban the future sale of gas-powered vehicles in our state, even though 95% of Maryland drivers are driving vehicles that utilize some form of gas or diesel fuel,” said House Minority Whip Jesse Pippy. “This ill-conceived policy did nothing to prevent Marylanders from simply buying their vehicles out of state. These policies will only serve to destroy Maryland’s automotive industry. We are grateful that the United States House of Representatives is bringing us one step closer to ending this radical policy.”
We don’t want it!