AGC backs congressional efforts to repeal sweeping air quality rule that could negatively impact manufacturing capacity, create supply chain hurdles, and jeopardize federal-aid highway construction funding.

In the weeks following the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) action to lower the primary annual air quality standard by 25 percent for fine particulate matter or PM2.5 (see AGC article), multiple states have taken legal action and both chambers of Congress have initiated AGC-supported resolutions to repeal the rule.

In the Senate, 45 Republicans have joined Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in a resolution to repeal the rule (introduced 3/14). In order to pass, this resolution would require a simple majority. In the House, Rep. Rick Allen introduced a resolution that has 50 Republican co-sponsors (as of Mar. 28). Under the Congressional Review Act (CRA), both chambers of Congress would have to pass the resolution, which would then go to the President. If vetoed, the resolution would return to Congress to override, which can be a steep hurdle.

Headed by Kentucky, twenty-four states have filed suit against the rule in U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

For more information, contact Melinda Tomaino at [email protected].