MATSUI STATEMENT ON APPROVAL OF CALIFORNIA’S CLEAN AIR ACT WAIVER FOR CARS AND SUVS

WASHINGTON D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07) released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) granted California a Clean Air Act waiver to set more stringent emission rules for light duty vehicles. The California Air Resources Board's (CARB) Advanced Clean Cars II regulation would require automakers to sell an increasing number of zero-emission vehicles in California over the next 10 years, reducing pollution on California's roads and cutting climate-warming emissions.

"California's leadership has once again raised the bar for combating harmful vehicle emissions and decreasing air pollution in our communities. Today's announcement by the Biden Administration is a vital step to ensure we can continue to lead the way to a cleaner and more resilient future," said Congresswoman Matsui. "I have long fought for California's right to set our own stronger pollution standards. The state's waivers have been a key driver to advance clean transportation innovation and ramp up the deployment of zero-emission vehicles. Our policies act as a blueprint for how to set strong climate policies while creating jobs, saving consumers money at the pump, and protecting families from dangerous pollutants. We know that the incoming Administration will try to put the brakes on the clean energy transition and double down on dirty fossil fuels. California is ready to act as the bulwark against these attacks and remain the beacon for progress."

The transportation sector is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, accounting for 27% of all greenhouse gas emissions. As co-chair of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC), Congresswoman Matsui has been one of the foremost voices in Congress calling for stronger emissions standards for passenger cars and light-duty trucks. Under the first Trump Administration, the Congresswoman led oppositionto then-President Trump's attempts to revoke California's pollution standards, and the Congresswoman successfully fought for the reinstatement of California's authority under the Biden Administration.

In March of 2021, she led a letter with 70 of her colleagues urging the Biden Administration to take action to reinstate California's Clean Air Act waiver and restore the Obama-Biden tailpipe emission and fuel economy standards. In July of 2021, she led a follow up letterwith then Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone and 139 of her colleagues to reiterate the importance of reinstating the California Clean Air Act waiver.

# # #