The House of Representatives recently passed a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution aiming to overturn the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s waiver that allows California’s Advanced Clean Cars II ban on new gas, diesel, and traditional hybrid vehicles sales. This decision is part of an ongoing legislative process.
Ray Cantor, Deputy Chief Government Affairs Officer for the New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA), commented on this development. “This positive House vote is a vote for common sense,” he stated. Cantor has previously urged New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection to reconsider penalties related to electric vehicle mandates set to begin in model year 2027.
New Jersey is among 13 states committed to adopting California’s ACC II ban, which includes prohibiting new gas-powered car purchases by 2035 and implementing annual electric vehicle sales targets starting with model year 2027.
Cantor expressed concerns about the potential impact of these mandates: “The general public, in New Jersey and nationwide, knows that states adopting this rule will place a heavy strain on the limited resources of families, businesses, government and our utilities.”
He further criticized the California mandate: “This California mandate cannot and should not cripple our communities and businesses in our state, exacerbate income inequality in our state, and remove our basic freedoms of choice.”
Cantor acknowledged bipartisan support in the House for overturning California’s ban: “We thank the members of the House on both sides of the aisle who voted to overturn California’s ban on sales of new gas cars.” He also called on the Senate to approve CRA resolutions so they can be presented to the President.
