Photo courtesy of Congressman James Gallagher


WASHINGTON, D.C. (MPG)  — The U.S. House of Representatives today passed Congressman James Gallagher’s (CA-01) Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to overturn a Biden-era Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) action allowing California to enforce costly new emissions requirements on commercial harbor craft. 

The resolution passed the House by a vote of [214-208] and now heads to the Senate. 

“California already makes just about everything more expensive, and its mandates on our maritime industry are more of the same. I introduced this resolution to overturn the EPA waiver that gave California the green light to move forward with costly new requirements on commercial harbor craft. These vessels help move goods through some of the busiest ports in the country, so when Sacramento drives up the cost of operating them, those costs don’t stay in California. They work their way through our supply chains and ultimately hit American families. I’m proud the House passed my resolution today and sent a clear message that California does not get a blank check to impose costly mandates with consequences for the rest of the country. Enough is enough” said Congressman Gallagher.

California’s Commercial Harbor Craft Amendments expand emissions requirements across a wide range of vessels operating in California waters. The regulations cover vessels including commercial fishing boats and workboats, while also imposing new engine standards and zero-emission requirements on certain vessel categories. EPA granted California partial authorization to enforce the 2022 amendments in January 2025. 

For California’s charter captains and fishing guides, Gallagher argues those mandates could mean costly engine replacements or vessel modifications that threaten small businesses already operating on tight margins. 

“Nor-Cal Guides & Sportsmen’s Association strongly supports Congressman James Gallagher’s Congressional Review Act resolution because California’s Commercial Harbor Craft mandate places an unrealistic financial burden on the charter captains and fishing guides who provide public access to our fisheries,” said James Stone, President, Nor-Cal Guides & Sportsmen’s Association. “Many of these are small, family-owned businesses that already operate under extensive federal and state regulations. Requiring costly engine replacements and vessel modifications threatens their ability to stay in business, reducing recreational access, hurting coastal/rural economies, and jeopardizing thousands of jobs. The salmon industry is barely surviving this year after reopening fisheries after 3 full years of salmon closures. We appreciate Congressman Gallagher’s leadership in protecting working waterfront businesses and ensuring that California’s charter fleet can continue serving anglers and communities across our state.”

The harbor craft regulations also affect vessels critical to port operations and the movement of goods. EPA itself describes harbor craft as performing jobs ranging from moving cargo and people to assisting larger ships and transporting supplies. 

"We applaud Congressman Gallagher for his leadership in this coordinated effort to stop California's latest attempts to impose vehicle and engine mandates on consumers nationwide," said Chet Thompson, American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) President and CEO. “California is forcing port facilities and operators of vessels — including ferries, tugboats and petrochemical tank barges — to pay for costly engine, fuel and electrification technologies, some of which aren’t 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.”

In January 2025, the Biden EPA granted California partial authorization to enforce its 2022 Commercial Harbor Craft Amendments. The amendments added vessel categories including pilot boats, research vessels, workboats and commercial fishing vessels, while establishing new emissions and compliance requirements.

EPA transmitted the Commercial Harbor Craft authorization to Congress in July 2026, allowing Congress to consider a resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act.

With House passage, Gallagher’s resolution now moves to the Senate for consideration.