Senate Votes to Overturn EPA Rule on Hazardous Air Pollutants

The Senate voted 52-46 to overturn an Environmental Protection Agency rule limiting seven of the most hazardous air pollutants emitted by chemical plants, oil refineries, and other industrial facilities, marking the first rollback of protections under the Clean Air Act in its 55-year history. The rule, finalized during the Biden administration, required facilities designated as major pollution sources to always maintain stringent controls, regardless of subsequent reductions in emissions. Business groups and Republican lawmakers argued that these requirements discouraged technological innovation and imposed burdensome compliance costs on industry. Environmentalists and community advocates warned that repealing the rule could endanger public health, particularly in vulnerable communities already exposed to toxic air, such as those in Louisiana’s 'Cancer Alley.' The resolution, introduced under the Congressional Review Act, now heads to the House, where it is expected to pass, and former President Trump has indicated he will sign it into law. The decision reflects deep partisan divides over environmental regulation and industrial oversight.