WASHINGTON — The White House on Tuesday said it strongly opposes a Republican bill set to be voted on this week by the U.S. House of Representatives that would prevent California from receiving federal waivers to set standards limiting the sale of new gas-powered motor vehicles.
The bill faces long odds of winning approval in the Senate, where Democrats have made boosting EVs a top priority. But it might pick up some Democratic support in the House, and the future of cars could be a potent political issue in the 2024 election for Congress and the White House.
California's Air Resources Board (CARB) in May asked the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to approve its plan to require all new vehicles sold in the state by 2035 to be either electric or plug-in electric hybrids, a landmark move that could speed the end of gasoline-powered vehicles.
The House bill would strip the EPA of authority to grant the waiver. California has received other waivers from EPA to set emissions limits for heavy trucks and other vehicles.