Congressman Bryan Steil and fellow Wisconsin representatives introduced the Fair Air Standards Act on Apr. 27, aiming to address Southeastern Wisconsin’s classification as an Ozone Nonattainment Area.
The legislation seeks to ensure that Wisconsin is not penalized for air pollution originating from outside the state, such as in Chicago. The bill is intended to reduce regulatory burdens for families, employers, and workers in Southeast Wisconsin while holding out-of-state polluters accountable.
“Families in Wisconsin shouldn’t be paying for pollution originating from outside the state, in places like Chicago,” said Congressman Bryan Steil. “The Fair Air Standards Act ensures that Wisconsin’s non-attainment status is tied to activity originating in our state not those in other areas. Our bill reduces burdens for families, employers, and workers across Southeast Wisconsin while holding out-of-state polluters responsible for their actions.”
Congressman Scott Fitzgerald said: “Wisconsin communities should not be financially punished for pollution they did not create. The Fair Air Standards Act gives states a fair chance to prove when air quality problems are caused by emissions from outside their borders and ensures EPA bases its decisions on facts. This legislation will restore fairness for our region and help us move forward without unnecessary federal barriers.”
Congressman Glenn Grothman commented: “This is a topic we’ve been working on for 25 years, as the poorly drafted Clean Air Act has punished industries in Wisconsin, making them less competitive, especially compared to other states and factories around the world. I’m proud to be championing this bill alongside Congressman Steil to restore the ozone attainment designation that Wisconsin rightfully deserves.”
Congressman Tom Tiffany added: “Because of outdated federal rules, hundreds of thousands of Wisconsin drivers in seven counties are forced to complete emissions tests every two years just to renew their registration. Wisconsin families should not be punished with costly and time-consuming mandates because of pollution drifting in from Illinois and Indiana. Four decades later and with cleaner vehicles on the road, it is time to end this non-attainment zone mandate and stop burdening drivers with a system that cannot prove it works.”
Bryan Steil has served as U.S. Representative of Wisconsin’s 1st District since 2019 after replacing Paul Ryan according to public records. He won his seat by defeating Randy Bryce in 2018; he was re-elected against Roger Polack (2020), Ann Roe (2022), and Peter Barca (2024) according to Ballotpedia.
Observers say this legislation could change how federal standards affect local communities facing cross-border environmental challenges.
