hold on there's just too much going on in Congress lmao...
Excludes CO2, methane, nitrous oxide from Clean Air Act definition of air pollutant.
Rep. Bob Onder (R-MO), referred to House Energy and Commerce.
Introduced in House, awaiting committee action.
The CARBON Act removes three major greenhouse gases from the EPA's regulatory authority under the Clean Air Act, which currently allows the agency to limit emissions from sources like power plants and vehicles. The sponsor, Rep. Onder, is a Republican from Missouri and sits on the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. The bill is now in the House Energy and Commerce Committee, where hearings may or may not occur. This is an early stage; most bills never become law.
Introduced Feb 12, 2026
This bill has been introduced in its chamber of Congress. It has been assigned a bill number and referred to a committee for review. Most bills never advance past this stage. The committee may hold hearings, gather expert testimony, and amend the bill before deciding whether to send it to the full chamber for a vote.
The EPA currently uses the Clean Air Act to enforce limits on CO2 from vehicles (fuel economy standards) and power plants. This bill would remove that authority, so those rules could be revoked. It would also prevent future administrations from addressing climate change through the Clean Air Act. However, states like California could still set their own emission standards. The bill does not affect other laws or voluntary programs.
Supporters Say
Supporters say the EPA oversteps by regulating greenhouse gases, harming the economy and costing jobs.
Critics Say
Critics argue this weakens efforts to combat climate change, risking more extreme weather and health problems.
Supporters, including many industry groups, contend that the Clean Air Act was designed for local pollutants like smog, not global greenhouse gases, and that regulation should come from Congress or states. Critics, including environmental advocates, point to Supreme Court precedent (Massachusetts v. EPA) that CO2 is a pollutant, and note that removing it would leave a regulatory void that could worsen emissions.