Sponsor
Kat Cammack
Representative · R-FL
Representative · R-FL
The bill speeds and simplifies exemptions for emergency, defense, and manufacturer needs—boosting readiness and reducing regulatory friction—but raises risks to local air quality and weakens transparency and oversight, increasing burdens on regulators.
Law enforcement, firefighters/EMS, federal disaster-response and defense agencies can obtain exempt engines and equipment more quickly and with federal endorsements, improving operational readiness and enabling faster procurement during emergencies and national-security missions.
Manufacturers and secondary engine makers get a clearer, faster (90-day) regulatory path to request exemptions, reducing regulatory uncertainty, compliance delays, and associated costs.
Local communities—especially urban areas—could experience worsened air quality if easier exemptions allow more higher-emission engines and equipment into service.
EPA and state regulators may face increased enforcement complexity and administrative costs if the use of exemptions rises, shifting regulatory burden and requiring more resources.
Removing the requirement to state quantities for exemptions reduces transparency and oversight, making it harder for state/local governments and the public to track the scope and environmental impacts of exempted equipment.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires EPA to allow manufacturers to request national security exemptions for engines/equipment used by first responders and permit federal endorsements without specifying quantities.
Official title: To direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to amend regulations relating to exemptions for engines and equipment for purposes of national security, and for other purposes.
Introduced March 19, 2026 by Kat Cammack · Last progress March 19, 2026
Requires the EPA Administrator to amend existing engine/emissions regulations within 90 days so manufacturers (including secondary engine makers) can request a national security exemption for engines or equipment intended for use by law enforcement, disaster relief, search and rescue, fire response, or emergency medical services. The amendment must allow endorsement of requests by federal defense agencies and the Department of Homeland Security (including FEMA) and must not require specifying a quantity of engines or equipment in the exemption request or endorsement.