Congressman James Gallagher today introduced a Congressional Review Act resolution to overturn a Biden-era Environmental Protection Agency waiver allowing California to impose burdensome emissions requirements on commercial harbor craft.
Gallagher said the mandate would increase operating costs for California businesses and add another layer of costly regulations at a time when hardworking families and industries across the state are already struggling with high costs.
“This is about affordability,” Gallagher said. “This rule drives up costs for maritime businesses, makes it harder to move goods through our ports, and ultimately leaves American families paying the price. Congress has a responsibility to restore oversight and stop Sacramento bureaucrats from dictating national policy.”
Gallagher’s resolution rescinds EPA’s approval of California’s Commercial Harbor Craft Amendments, which establish new emissions requirements for a broad range of commercial vessels operating in California waters. The authorization expands the regulations to additional vessel categories while imposing strict new engine standards and zero-emission requirements that Gallagher argues will increase operating costs, weaken American competitiveness, and further strain the nation’s supply chains.
“Nor-Cal Guides and Sportsmen’s Association strongly supports Congressman James Gallagher’s Congressional Review Act resolution because California’s Commercial Harbor Craft mandate places an unrealistic financial burden on the charter captains and fishing guides who provide public access to our fisheries,” said James Stone, President, Nor-Cal Guides and Sportsmen’s Association. “Many of these are small, family-owned businesses that already operate under extensive federal and state regulations. Requiring costly engine replacements and vessel modifications threatens their ability to stay in business, reducing recreational access, hurting coastal/rural economies, and jeopardizing thousands of jobs. The salmon industry is barely surviving this year after reopening fisheries after 3 full years of salmon closures. We appreciate Congressman Gallagher’s leadership in protecting working waterfront businesses and ensuring that California’s charter fleet can continue serving anglers and communities across our state.”
“We applaud Congressman Gallagher for his leadership in this coordinated effort to stop California’s latest attempts to impose vehicle and engine mandates on consumers nationwide,” said Chet Thompson, American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers President and CEO. “California is forcing port facilities and operators of vessels — including ferries, tugboats and petrochemical tank barges — to pay for costly engine, fuel and electrification technologies, some of which aren’t even approved for use. Since these vessels keep ports operating, goods moving and energy supplies flowing far beyond California, the impact of this rule will be felt nationwide. American families and businesses should not have to pay the price for yet another unachievable California mandate.”
Background
California’s Commercial Harbor Craft Amendments expand the state’s emissions regulations to additional categories of commercial vessels operating in California waters, including pilot boats, research vessels, workboats, commercial fishing vessels, commercial passenger fishing vessels, and certain tank barges. The rule also establishes new engine standards and zero-emission requirements for several vessel categories, creating significant new compliance obligations for vessel owners.
Gallagher’s resolution would overturn EPA’s January 2025 approval of the rule through the Congressional Review Act. Because EPA did not transmit the authorization to Congress for review, lawmakers now have the opportunity to review and disapprove the action.
