{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.moreno.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/moreno-introduces-resolution-to-block-californias-radical-environmental-policies/", "Moreno Introduces Resolution to Block California\u2019s Radical Environmental Policies", "2026-08-11", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "OH", "Bernie Moreno", "M001242", "www.moreno.senate.gov", "moreno", "https://www.moreno.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 In case you missed it, Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) introduced a joint resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act to overturn the Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s (EPA) approval of California\u2019s Commercial Harbor Craft rule. The rule imposes burdensome and unrealistic zero-emission mandates on commercial vessels that threaten Great Lakes maritime commerce, American shipping, maritime jobs, and the efficient movement of goods by water.\n\nSenator Moreno Co-Chairs the Great Lakes Task Force to advance the long-term vitality and prosperity of the Great Lakes region through legislative initiatives, funding priorities, and oversight efforts.\n\n\u201cCalifornia\u2019s radical, unelected bureaucrats will not dictate shipping policy for the rest of America,\u201d said Senator Moreno. \u201cOhio consumers should not be punished by the stupidity of California regulators. Congress must kill this burdensome EPA mandate that drives up the cost of everyday goods, destroys American jobs, and hands our shipping industry over to China.\u201d\n\nStatements of Support:\n\n\u201cThe CHC rule\u2019s effects extend beyond California and into interstate commerce, national freight movement, and U.S. maritime at large, necessitating review by Congress,\u201d said The American Waterways Operators (AWO). \u201cWe appreciate Senator Moreno\u2019s leadership in championing congressional consideration of the CHC rule, and we fully support this effort to ensure that environmental regulations affecting the maritime industry are grounded in demonstrated feasibility, preserve mariner safety, and allow operators to continue moving commerce efficiently.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe applaud Senator Moreno for leading this effort to overturn California\u2019s Commercial Harbor Craft rule, and we urge Congress to act now to reverse this unlawful, unworkable mandate before it causes further economic harm,\u201d said Chet Thompson, American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers(AFPM) President and CEO. \u201cCalifornia is forcing port facilities and operators of vessels \u2014 including ferries, tugboats and petrochemical tank barges \u2014 to pay for costly engine, fuel and electrification technologies, some of which aren\u2019t 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.\u201d\n\n\u201cI would like to thank Senator Moreno for this appropriate, judicious and timely use of the Congressional Review Act,\u201d said Jim Weakley, President, Lake Carriers\u2019 Association. \u201cCongress should exercise its authority to right the previous wrongs of administrative agencies. Granting an individual state a waiver to federal laws and regulations so it can overregulate interstate and international commerce by setting burdensome and unrealistic vessel standards is not in our national best interest. It taxes all consumers not just the commercial harbor craft that keep commerce moving. Americans pay with their pocketbooks and their jobs.\u201d\n\n\u201cTransportation Institute applauds Senator Moreno\u2019s leadership in standing up for the American maritime industry by challenging California\u2019s dangerous Commercial Harbor Craft waiver rule,\u201d said Sara Fuentes, President of the Transportation Institute. \u201cThe rule would require unsafe and unproven technology on American tugboats, towboats, and articulated tug-barges (ATBs), despite serious concerns raised by the U.S. Coast Guard about the risks to mariner safety. As the nation\u2019s most energy-efficient mode of freight transportation, the American maritime industry is committed to protecting the environment\u2014but not at the expense of the safety of our mariners. On behalf of Transportation Institute members across the Great Lakes and throughout the country, we commend Senator Moreno for putting safety first.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Dredging Contractors of America strongly supports Senator Bernie Moreno\u2019s Congressional Review Act resolution to overturn California\u2019s Commercial Harbor Craft waiver rule,\u201d said William P. Doyle, Chief Executive Officer, The Dredging Contractors of America. \u201cThe rule directly affects dredges, tugboats, towboats and other specialized vessels essential to maintaining California\u2019s ports, harbors and federally authorized navigation channels.\u201d\n\n\u201cOperators unable to install compliant equipment could be forced to replace otherwise safe and serviceable vessels at enormous cost,\u201d said Passenger Vessel Association. \u201cThese costs cannot realistically be recovered through higher fares, and sufficient government grants may not be available. The result could be the loss of vessels, routes, maritime jobs, and essential passenger transportation services. Disapproving the waiver would not represent a retreat from environmental stewardship. It would allow California, federal safety regulators, manufacturers, and the passenger vessel industry to develop standards that are ambitious but also safe, technically achievable, and economically realistic. PVA appreciates Senator Moreno\u2019s leadership and urges Congress to approve his resolution.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nThe California State Nonroad Engine Pollution Control Standards was implemented under the Biden Administration\u2019s EPA, granting California the authority to enforce its own emissions standards for commercial harbor craft. Senator Moreno\u2019s resolution blocks California\u2019s harbor craft emissions rule.", 1, "2026-08-13T06:17:16Z", "2026-08-13T06:18:13Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.moreno.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/moreno-introduces-resolution-to-block-californias-radical-environmental-policies/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.8773728515952826, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}