The U.S. House of Representatives voted 221 to 203 on May 24 to repeal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations aiming to significantly reduce emissions that contribute to smog and soot from heavy-duty trucks.
The rule, after being passed by the Senate in April, will now be sent to President Joe Biden’s desk. The White House said the EPA rule “cuts pollution, boosts public health, and advances environmental justice.”
Under the Congressional Review Act, a simple majority vote in both houses of Congress can overturn recently finalized rules, but such action requires the approval of the president.
Republicans criticized the newly finalized rules, which were finalized in December, are extremely difficult to implement and will lead to increased costs in the supply chain. “Every American consumer will feel the effects of this rule and its price increases,” Republican senator Deb Fischer said.
Democratic Representative Frank Pallone said the “Republican bill would have dire consequences for EPA’s ability to fulfill its mission to protect public health and welfare from dangerous pollution.”
The EPA in April proposed new measures for reducing pollution from larger vehicles. Under the proposal, the EPA estimates that by 2032, 50% of vehicles such as buses and garbage trucks could be electric vehicles (EVs), while 35% of new short-haul freight tractors and 25% of new long-haul freight tractors could also be EVs. By 2032, medium-duty vehicle rules are expected to cut emissions by 44% compared to the standards set in 2026.
The standards tighten yearly emissions limits, the first update to the clean air standards for heavy-duty trucks in more than 20 years, and are 80% more stringent than the current standards.
According to the EPA, the new rule could lead to up to 2,900 fewer premature deaths per year, 1.1 million fewer missed school days for children, and $29 billion in annual net benefits by 2045.
“It's really important, especially for protecting the health of the 72 million people living near truck freight routes in America,” said EPA Administrator Michael Regan in December.
