HR0182 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0182 LRB096 11991 JDS 23697 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, California has implemented more stringent motor vehicle air emissions regulations than the federal government for over 40 years; and

WHEREAS, In recognition of the pioneering role of California in protecting public health and welfare from motor vehicle emissions, the United States Congress enacted subdivision (b) of Section 209 of the federal Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7543(b)) that allows the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency ("the Administrator") to waive federal preemption of state motor vehicle standards; and

WHEREAS, Once a waiver is granted to California for that regulation, other states may adopt the vehicle emission standards established by California; and

WHEREAS, On December 19, 2007, Administrator Stephen L. Johnson of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency denied California its requested waiver for the right to impose its own standards for carbon dioxide emissions from automobiles; and

WHEREAS, According to the Congressional Research Service, California has requested waivers of preemption under subdivision (b) of Section 209 of the federal Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7543(b)) for vehicle emission standards more than 50 times since that provision was enacted, and the Administrator has never previously denied such a request, but has instead always granted the requests in whole or in part; and

WHEREAS, The President of the United States, Barack Obama, has directed the Administrator to reconsider California's waiver request, which was rejected by the previous administration; and

WHEREAS, The Administrator has begun the process of reconsidering California's request; and

WHEREAS, An analysis by the California Air Resources Board shows that the California standards, once fully adopted, would, when compared with the status quo under the federal Clean Air Act, result by 2020, in a two-fold greater reduction in carbon dioxide emissions in California and an 80 percent greater reduction in carbon dioxide emissions nationally; and

WHEREAS, Thirteen states and the District of Columbia have already taken steps to follow California's emissions standards, which, according to Environment America, will reduce global warming pollution by more than 450 million metric tons by 2020, a reduction equivalent to eliminating all of the pollution from 84.7 million of today's cars for a year; and

WHEREAS, Illinois supports California's right under the Clean Air Act to set stricter standards than the federal government for motor vehicle emissions and the rights of other states to implement California's standards; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that this House hereby encourages the United States Environmental Protection Agency to grant California a waiver necessary to achieve greenhouse gas reductions from motor vehicles as required by California law; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this House opposes preemption of state laws and regulations that are stronger than federal laws or regulations to reduce global warming emissions; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be sent to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, to each Senator and Representative from Illinois in the Congress of the United States, and to the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency.