House Republicans take aim at Biden’s climate overreach: A fight against junk science and government waste
By willowt // 2025-02-25
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  • House Republican leadership has unveiled a list of 10 Biden-era climate and energy regulations to overturn using the Congressional Review Act (CRA).
  • The California Clean Air Act Waiver, allowing stricter vehicle emissions standards, is a primary target, criticized for increasing vehicle prices and complicating manufacturing.
  • Republicans argue that the Biden administration's climate policies are based on flawed science and prioritize ideological goals over practical solutions.
  • The methane fee provision of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act is another target, with Republicans claiming it will drive up energy costs and harm domestic energy producers.
  • The House's effort to roll back these regulations aims to restore accountability, transparency and common-sense energy policies, signaling the end of unchecked government overreach.
In a bold move to rein in the Biden administration’s regulatory overreach, House Republican leadership has unveiled a targeted list of climate and energy rules they plan to overturn using the Congressional Review Act (CRA). This legislative tool, which allows Congress to nullify recently implemented regulations with a simple majority vote, is being wielded to dismantle what conservatives argue are costly, ineffective and scientifically dubious policies. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) has spearheaded the effort, releasing a list of 10 Biden-era regulations that Republicans will seek to reverse in the coming weeks. At the top of the list is the controversial California Clean Air Act Waiver, which allows the state to impose stricter vehicle emissions standards than federal requirements. California’s mandate that all new car sales be zero-emissions by 2035 has drawn sharp criticism from Republicans, who argue it amounts to a de facto ban on gas-powered vehicles. “This waiver has resulted in higher vehicle prices for consumers, increased costs and manufacturing complexities for automakers, and a more complicated regulatory environment,” Scalise said in a press release. The pushback against these regulations is not just about economics; it’s a battle against what many conservatives see as the Biden administration’s reliance on biased, agenda-driven science to justify sweeping climate policies.

The California waiver: A case study in overreach

The California Clean Air Act Waiver is emblematic of the Biden administration’s approach to climate policy: heavy-handed mandates that prioritize ideological goals over practical solutions. By granting California the authority to set its own emissions standards, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has effectively allowed one state to dictate national auto manufacturing trends. This waiver, first established in the 1970s, was intended to address California’s unique air quality challenges. However, under the Biden administration, it has been weaponized to advance a radical climate agenda. Critics argue that the waiver’s expansion under Biden is based on flawed science and ignores the economic realities facing American families. “President Trump got to sign 16 [CRA resolutions] into law in his first term, and he knows how powerful they were, because Joe Biden was not able to reverse any of those,” Scalise said in an interview. The House’s effort to overturn the waiver is part of a broader strategy to restore common-sense energy policies and protect consumers from skyrocketing costs.

Methane madness: A fee that hurts everyone

Another key target on Scalise’s list is the Waste Emissions Charge for Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems, a provision of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. This rule imposes a fee on oil and gas facilities that exceed specific methane emissions thresholds. Republicans argue that the methane fee is a prime example of government overreach that will drive up energy costs for consumers and harm domestic energy producers. Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas), who represents the oil-rich Permian Basin, has been particularly vocal in his opposition. “This is part of Biden’s war on energy,” Pfluger said. “It hurts the hardworking energy producers in my district who have worked diligently to increase production while fueling our allies abroad.” Environmentalists claim the fee targets only the “largest polluters,” but critics counter that it is based on exaggerated claims about methane emissions. According to industry experts, the rule ignores the significant strides made by energy producers to reduce emissions voluntarily.

Appliance standards: A radical assault on American homes

The House is also taking aim at the Department of Energy’s (DOE) energy conservation standards for gas-fired instantaneous water heaters. Republicans have derided the rule as a “radical ban” that will drive up costs for homeowners and stifle innovation. Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Ala.), who introduced the CRA resolution against the DOE rule, called it an “attack on American homes.” Energy Secretary Chris Wright, speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), highlighted the absurdity of the regulation. “It’s among the cheapest ways to heat your water, takes the least space, lower cost, burns natural gas, our lowest-cost thermal energy we can have in our homes,” Wright said. “It’s a win on every box. That’s why they’ve been selling like hotcakes and are an emerging product. So what did the Biden administration do? They passed a regulation that would make that product illegal. And that company would be dead.” The Biden administration has defended its efficiency rules as necessary to protect consumers and the environment, but Republicans argue that these regulations are based on flawed assumptions and will have unintended consequences.

A return to common sense

The House’s effort to roll back these regulations is about more than just reversing specific rules; it’s about restoring accountability and transparency to the regulatory process. For too long, the Biden administration has relied on biased science and sweeping mandates to advance its climate agenda, often at the expense of American families and businesses. By using the CRA to overturn these rules, House Republicans are sending a clear message: the era of unchecked government overreach is over. This is a fight for economic freedom, scientific integrity, and the right of Americans to make their own choices without being burdened by costly and unnecessary regulations. As the House prepares to vote on these resolutions in the coming weeks, the stakes could not be higher. The outcome will determine whether the United States continues down the path of radical climate policies or returns to a more balanced, common-sense approach to energy and environmental regulation. For conservatives, this is a battle worth fighting—and one that could define the future of American energy policy for generations to come. Sources include: ClimateDepot.com PunchbowlNews.com EENews.net
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