California's Vessel At Berth Regulation Draws Congressional Push for Rollback Over Cost Concerns
Rep. Vince Fong, R-Calif., is leading legislation to revoke the EPA's authorization allowing California to enforce its Vessel At Berth regulation, which requires large ships docked at California ports to shut off diesel engines and use approved emissions alternatives. California's ports, including the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach, process more than 40% of all U.S. container imports. The Trump administration asked Congress in July 2026 to initiate a review of the rule, prompting Fong's legislation and a Senate companion bill from Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska.
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Rep. Vince Fong, R-Calif., introduced legislation targeting the EPA's 2020 authorization that enables California's Air Resources Board (CARB) to enforce the Vessel At Berth regulation at the state's ports. The rule requires large vessels — including cargo ships — to power down their diesel engines while docked and connect to the state electrical grid or use another state-approved emissions strategy.
Ships that fail to comply can face penalties of tens of thousands of dollars per day. Fong told Fox News Digital that because current port infrastructure does not yet allow universal compliance, shipping companies are routinely paying those penalties, and those costs are then passed along to consumers through higher prices on goods.
Fong described the regulation as a "hidden climate tax" affecting a broad range of goods — including online orders, grocery store products, gasoline, and supplies purchased by small businesses — arguing that added costs anywhere in the shipping network ripple throughout the entire supply chain. The EPA authorization was granted in 2020 during Gov. Gavin Newsom's tenure and was effectively reinforced through the Biden administration.