U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) is asking California’s top environmental agency for answers as the state appears to be ignoring Congress’ reversal of three key electric vehicle standards.
Palmer, who sits on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, recently joined his colleagues in sending a letter to the Executive Officer of the California Air Resources Board, inquiring about the state’s non-compliance in relation to the rollback of EV rules.
The letter, led by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman U.S. Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.), expressed concern regarding reports “California, and other jurisdictions that have adopted California standards for which waivers of preemption have been granted, are enforcing preempted vehicle emission regulations in violation of the Clean Air Act.”
Congress nullified the Biden-era waivers granted by the Biden EPA to California earlier this year using the Congressional Review Act.
“These efforts include CARB staff indicating that the agency would deny California Executive Orders (EO) for model year 2026 vehicles that meet all of CARB’s enforceable regulatory requirements and which California allowed for sale in model year 2025,” the letter continued, “on the basis that these vehicles do not meet the additional requirements in one set of the preempted regulations: ACC-II.”
The committee also posted about the investigation on X.
“California must follow the law and once again allow consumers to choose the best vehicles for them.”
ICYMI: Chairmen @RepGuthrie, @USRepGaryPalmer, and @RepJohnJoyce are investigating California’s decision to continue enforcing its EV mandate on American consumers and manufacturers.
California must follow the law and once again allow consumers to choose the best vehicles for…
— Energy and Commerce Committee (@HouseCommerce) August 12, 2025
Several liberal ran states have now also adopted California’s low-emissions standards.
Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee
