Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to make our air dirtier by rescinding critical state laws to regulate car and truck pollution. We need your help in asking our US Senators to vote NO on three Congressional Review Act resolutions (H.J. Res. 87, H.R. Res. 88, H.J. Res. 89). Using the Congressional Review Act to appeal the tailpipe emission limits set in California could set a dangerous precedent for using the CRA to override state laws and implement broad-reaching federal statutes and bans.
For the sake of public health, we can’t let this happen. One hundred thirty-one million Americans live in counties with unhealthy ozone levels and particulate pollution. Cars, SUVs, and trucks are the largest source of that pollution, which causes asthma attacks, heart attacks, strokes, premature births, lung cancer, and premature deaths. States with dirtier air should have the right to set stricter standards than the federal government, and that is especially true now that the current administration is threatening to roll-back those standards.
Not only will passing the CRA resolutions be detrimental to public health, but it would also hurt the American economy by throwing clean transportation investments and the emerging electric vehicle industry into disarray. This threatens the loss of jobs here in Michigan, as well as other states where significant new investments have been made.
The adverse effect on the economy doesn’t stop with job losses– the CRA resolutions that eliminate clean car emission rules will also cause increased costs for consumers, eliminating savings on fuel and maintenance costs. This is especially true for rural and lower-income drivers who have to drive long distances for work.
Improperly applying the Congressional Review Act (CRA) would set a dangerous precedent that could lead to its misuse for other executive actions, including Medicaid waivers and changes to K-12 education plans. Rescinding these waivers without requiring EPA to justify its reversal based on its public health mission would be a big mistake.
For the health of people and the planet, the support of thriving communities and their economies, and our democracy, we urge you to join us in calling on lawmakers to stop this overreach of power and vote NO on the Congressional Review Act resolutions (H.J. Res. 87, H.R. Res. 88, H.J. Res. 89).
TAKE ACTION NOW!
Or, Call Your U.S. Senator:
Michigan U.S. Senator Slotkin: 202-224-4822
Michigan U.S. Senator Peters: 202-224-6221
Look up their phone number here, and use this script:
“Hi, my name is _______, and I’m a constituent (or title) living in _______, ZIP code _______.
I’m calling to urge Sen.________ to vote ‘no’ on these unlawful attempts to use the Congressional Review Act to overturn EPA waivers for vehicle pollution programs (H.J. Res. 87, H.R. Res. 88, H.J. Res. 89). I’m very concerned that if Congress uses the CRA improperly, it could create a precedent that allows it to be used on anything at all — from Medicaid waivers to changes to K-through-12 education plans.
Will Sen. ________ vote against these unlawful CRA resolutions when they come to the floor in the next few weeks?”