Latest news with #EnvironmentandPublicWorksCommittee
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Senate parliamentarian says lawmakers can't overturn California car rules — but Republicans may try anyway
The Senate parliamentarian has ruled that lawmakers cannot use the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to overturn California's electric vehicle mandate — but Republicans may defy the arbiter of the Senate's rules. The parliamentarian's ruling was first made public by statements from Senate Democrats Friday. 'We're gratified that the Senate parliamentarian followed decades of precedent showing that California's Clean Air Act waivers are not subject to the Congressional Review Act,' Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) said in a written statement. The Congressional Review Act is a law that allows Congress — with the president's approval — to overturn regulations using a simple majority. However, the Biden administration's approval of California's gas car phaseout was technically issued via a waiver, rather than a federal rule — raising questions about whether the CRA applied to it. Despite the parliamentarian's determination, Senate Republicans indicated that they may press forward. A few hours after the ruling was made public, Republicans issued a statement noticing that they had introduced a CRA resolution targeting the waiver. 'The American people have made it clear that they want consumer choice – not an EV mandate. I will continue to address all options available to strike down these rules and eliminate the consequential impact they would make across our country,' Sen. Shelley Moore Capito ( said in a written statement. She did not directly address the parliamentarian's ruling in her statement. Capito spokesperson Brent Scott added that the senator 'continues to believe that the waivers are rules' and that they were introduced to 'preserve all options.' 'Chairman Capito continues to work with her colleagues and Senate Republican leadership to determine steps forward in this process,' Scott said, referring to Capito's chairship of the Environment and Public Works Committee. Senate Republicans are also considering bypassing the parliamentarian on a much higher-profile issue: President Trump's tax cuts. The Government Accountability Office, a nonpartisan congressional watchdog, has also said that the California waiver is not subject to the CRA. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
04-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Hill
Senate parliamentarian says lawmakers can't overturn California car rules – but Republicans may try anyway
The Senate parliamentarian has ruled that lawmakers cannot use the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to overturn California's electric vehicle mandate — but Republicans may defy the arbiter of the Senate's rules. The parliamentarian's ruling was first made public by statements from Senate Democrats on Friday. 'We're gratified that the Senate parliamentarian followed decades of precedent showing that California's Clean Air Act waivers are not subject to the Congressional Review Act,' said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) in a written statement. The Congressional Review Act is a law that allows Congress — with the president's approval — to overturn regulations using a simple majority. However, the Biden administration's approval of California's gas car phaseout was technically issued via a waiver, rather than a federal rule — raising questions about whether the CRA applied to it. Despite the parliamentarian's determination, Senate Republicans indicated that they may press forward. A few hours after the ruling was made public, Republicans issued a statement noticing that they had introduced a CRA resolution targeting the waiver. 'The American people have made it clear that they want consumer choice – not an EV mandate. I will continue to address all options available to strike down these rules and eliminate the consequential impact they would make across our country,' Sen. Shelley Moore Capito ( said in a written statement. She did not directly address the parliamentarian's ruling in her statement. Capito spokesperson Brent Scotta added that the senator 'continues to believe that the wives are rules' and that they were introduced to 'preserve all options.' 'Chairman Capito continues to work with her colleagues and Senate Republican leadership to determine steps forward in this process,' Scott said, referring to Capito's chairship of the Environment and Public Works Committee. Senate Republicans are also considering bypassing the parliamentarian on a much higher-profile issue: President Trump's tax cuts. The Government Accountability Office, a nonpartisan congressional watchdog, has also said that the California waiver is not subject to the CRA.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lawmakers secure funding for the Washington Bridge
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — There was a strong display of bipartisan support at a hearing in Washington on Wednesday that involved money for the Washington Bridge. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse started his remarks by recognizing the teamwork of his Republican colleague, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito from West Virginia, who chairs the Environment and Public Works Committee, and also Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. 'I want to start by thanking Chair Capito and her staff for helping unstick previously awarded funding for Rhode Island's essential Washington Bridge project. Madam chair, thank you,' Whitehouse said. 'Secretary Duffy, I also want to thank you for your team's work delivering the funding for a number of discretionary grants for the past week, including those Washington Bridge funds.' IN-DEPTH: RI nails down $220M in federal funding for Washington Bridge rebuild Last week, Rhode Island signed a federal grant agreement with Sec. Duffy to nail down $220 million in federal funding for the Washington Bridge rebuild. Gov. Dan McKee sent a letter to Sec. Duffy earlier this month stressing the importance and urgency of releasing the funding. 'I think that Senator Capito has talked more about your projects than her own projects in West Virginia, and it's evident that you all work together in a bipartisan fashion, and I appreciate that because I think infrastructure is bipartisan,' Sec. Duffy said. While Sen. Whitehouse had the floor, he also showed Sec. Duffy a photo of the 100-year-old Mt. Hope Bridge to remind him of the previously awarded funding for bridges like that. Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sen. John Curtis shares Utah's priorities with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy
During an exchange with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Sen. John Curtis spoke about some of Utah's transportation priorities and how the state can be an example for the rest of the country. The conversation happened during an Environment and Public Works Committee hearing on Wednesday, on the Surface Transportation Reauthorization bill. Curtis started addressing Duffy by inviting the secretary to visit Utah soon, partially to see the state's FrontRunner commuter rail system. Curtis spoke of expanding the FrontRunner, pointing out that the rail services 80% of the state's population and that Utah's population is rapidly growing. The senator also mentioned Utah's upcoming Olympics in 2034. 'So we'd love to have your support on that project, and love to personally show you that as well,' Curtis said. During the exchange with Curtis, Duffy also extended condolences to the state of Utah over the death of former Utah Congresswoman Mia Love. 'I just want to extend my condolences to the state of Utah. You lost a lioness of a legislator and a friend of mine. And I know a friend to the great state of Utah, Mia Love, who served in our body in the House. She lost her battle with cancer. She has a wonderful family, and I know she loved Utah. And she served your state well. And our hearts are broken that you lost her,' Duffy said. Curtis replied, 'And on behalf of the state, thank you for your friendship with her, too. I know she thought very highly of you.' Curtis also highlighted Utah's Metropolitan Planning Organizations and how Utah is the only state in the nation where all of its MPOs work together. The senator positioned Utah as an example for other states in relation to the reauthorization bill. 'I'm sure you'll be a champion, and I'll take your lead and what we learned from the successes, and how do we improve on the successes in this new bill,' Duffy said. The Senator brought up off road vehicles such as four wheelers and ATVs, pointing out that they contribute $281 million a year to the Highway Trust Fund but only receive $84 million back. He told Duffy that he would love to speak to him about returning more of those funds back to Utah's trails programs, as part of the bill. The two spoke about transitioning more authority to the states for transportation projects. Curtis added that projects often get done faster and more cost effectively when done under state authority compared to those done under federal authority.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump blocks rule to implement methane fee for oil and gas companies
President Trump on Friday signed a resolution to block the implementation of a fee on oil and gas companies' excess methane emissions. The resolution blocked the Environmental Protection Agency's 2024 rule that implemented the fee program, which was established in the Democrats' 2022 climate, tax and health care bill. Technically, the fee is still in the law, since the 2022 legislation has not been overturned. It was not immediately clear what the impacts will be of overturning the 2024 rule implementing the law. But the methane fee program — which also provides funds to help companies install emissions-reducing technology — is likely to be overturned as part of a larger package that Republicans are hoping to pass in the months ahead. Republicans celebrated Trump's move — and vowed to overturn the program legislatively. 'I'm honored to join President Trump and my congressional colleagues in officially rejecting the Democrats' attempt to collect a tax on natural gas production and stand for American energy dominance,' Sen. Shelley Moore Capito ( said in a written statement. 'I will continue to work with my colleagues through the reconciliation process to stop the underlying law establishing this tax that was a part of the so-called Inflation Reduction Act,' said Capito, who chairs the Senate's Environment and Public Works Committee. Methane is a planet-warming gas that is about 28 times as potent as carbon dioxide. It is also the main component of natural gas. Sometimes, during the oil and gas drilling process, companies will burn off or release some of the gas rather than capturing it to sell — releasing planet-warming emissions into the atmosphere. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
