The
White House said President Joe Biden would veto the measure that
now goes to his desk after being passed by the Senate in April.
It said the EPA rule "cuts pollution, boosts public health, and
advances environmental justice."
Republicans argue the new rules, finalized in December, are
overly challenging to implement, will increase supply chain
costs and will make trucks too expensive for small business
owners.
Republican Senator Deb Fischer said "every American consumer
will feel the effects of this rule and its price increases."
Democratic Representative Frank Pallone said the "Republican
bill would have dire consequences for EPA's ability to fulfill
its mission to protect public health and welfare from dangerous
pollution."
Under the Congressional Review Act, a simple majority vote in
both chambers of Congress can reverse recently finalized rules,
but that action must win approval of the president.
The standards tighten yearly emissions limits, the first update
to clean air standards for heavy duty trucks in more than two
decades, and are 80% more stringent than current standards.
The EPA estimates by 2045, the rule will result in up to 2,900
fewer premature deaths annually, 1.1 million fewer lost school
days for children and $29 billion in annual net benefits.
"It's really important, especially for protecting the health of
the 72 million people living near truck freight routes in
America," EPA Administrator Michael Regan told Reuters in
December.
The EPA in April proposed new pollution cuts for larger
vehicles.
Under the proposal, EPA estimates 50% of vehicles like buses and
garbage trucks could be electric vehicles (EVs) by 2032, along
with 35% of new short-haul freight tractors and 25% of new
long-haul freight tractors. Medium-duty vehicle rules are
projected to cut emissions by 44% by 2032 over 2026 standards.
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Sonali Paul)
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