Press Releases

Washington, D.C. — This week, Congresswoman Celeste Maloy (UT-02) joined her colleagues, led by Reps. Rick Crawford (AR-01) and Sam Graves (MO-06), on a Congressional Review Act (CRA) Joint Resolution of Disapproval to overturn a rule finalized in November 2023 by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The rule imposes greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions performance measures on state departments of transportation and metropolitan planning organizations without Congressional authority.

“This rule is yet another example of a federal agency bypassing Congress to overstep its legal authority. Their rule would make travel more difficult for my constituents, especially those who live and work in rural areas. That’s why I’ve joined my colleagues in opposing this unrealistic and illegal federal mandate,” said Rep. Maloy, a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

“This one size fits all regulation puts states with more small towns and rural communities that are not able to cut emissions by building a metro system, buying electric buses, or building miles of bike lanes between communities at a significant disadvantage. What’s most galling is that this administration has implemented this rule despite having no statutory authority to do so. This is the heavy hand of the federal government run amok,” said Rep. Crawford, Chairman of the House Highways and Transit Subcommittee.

“While the infrastructure law included provisions to address transportation related environmental impacts and transportation resiliency, Congress considered and specifically rejected the inclusion of a GHG performance measure requirement during negotiations. The Biden administration needs to implement the law that was written – not a law that it keeps wishing had been written,” said Rep. Graves, Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

This resolution was introduced by 64 Republicans in the House.

Background:

In November 2023, the FHWA finalized a rule which mandates that states with federal interstates and highways adopt stringent CO2 emissions standards. Congress has not provided the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) with statutory authority to implement this proposal. It was left out of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act after thorough debate. Additionally, Utah has joined 21 other states in challenging the rule, arguing that the U.S. Department of Transportation lacks Congressional authority to impose such a regulation.