South Bend Times

Congressman Rudy Yakym and Governor Mike Braun have expressed their support for the Congressional Review Act (CRA) signed by President Donald Trump. This act repeals waivers previously granted to California under the Clean Air Act, which allowed the state to set its own emissions standards.

In a joint op-ed published on Fox Opinion, Yakym and Braun stated that ending what they termed as California's "EPA power grab" is crucial for revitalizing American manufacturing, particularly in the auto and RV sectors. They criticized the Biden administration for granting these waivers, suggesting it circumvented Congress to advance a specific environmental agenda.

The CRA revokes California's ability to enforce regulations requiring most vehicles sold in the state to be electric by 2035. This change affects over a dozen states that had adopted California's standards. The legislation was pushed through Congress with support from Senate Majority Leader John Thune and received backing from some Democrats.

According to Yakym and Braun, this move is vital for Indiana's economy, where RV production is significant. They argued that national emissions standards should be determined by elected officials rather than individual states or regulators.

Yakym highlighted past use of the CRA by Governor Braun when he was a U.S. senator, noting its role in reversing federal mandates such as Biden’s vaccine requirement for private businesses.

The op-ed concludes with praise for Republicans in Congress and President Trump for opposing what they describe as overreach from the previous administration regarding environmental regulations.