# 119-s-4404: No Passes for Polluters Act of 2026

119-s-4404, No Passes for Polluters Act of 2026, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI] (D-RI); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-09-10).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4404
- As of: 2026-09-10
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-4404
- Congress: 119
- Title: No Passes for Polluters Act of 2026
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-04-27
- Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI] (D-RI)
- Cosponsors: 2
- Policy area: Environmental Protection
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-10

## Summary

**Congressional approval for executive Clean Air exemptions.** This bill would require the President and federal agencies to get explicit congressional approval before using or extending certain exemptions under the Clean Air Act. - Executive branch: Agencies would not be able to use or extend "covered exemptions" under sections 118(b), 248(e), and 604(f) unless Congress enacts a joint resolution approving the specific use. The President must send a detailed "special message" that explains the exemption, the period of use, legal authority, and relevant facts. - Congress: Lawmakers would get a fast, defined review process for each proposed exemption with Senate debate limited to 10 hours, House debate limited to 2 hours, and a two-thirds voting requirement in both chambers for passage. - Public oversight and enforcement: The Comptroller General would review and report on each special message and monthly summaries would be required. Any person could bring a civil action over use of a covered exemption that lacks enacted congressional approval.

## Cosponsors (2)

- Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA] (D-CA), 2026-04-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM] (D-NM), 2026-05-13T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Anyone could sue over exemptions: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would let any person bring a civil suit under the Clean Air Act against anyone who used a covered exemption that Congress did not enact. Suits could name the United States, the President, EPA leaders, or other federal officials. The bill would add this enforcement option into t…
- More reporting and GAO review: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would require a written "special message" to both Houses when a covered exemption is proposed. The President must also send a monthly report by the 10th day listing messages from the prior month, and those reports must be printed in the Federal Register. A copy of each special…
- Congress must approve air exemptions: mixed, medium. If enacted, the bill would bar certain Clean Air Act exemptions unless Congress enacts a joint resolution approving them. It would cover exemptions and orders for executive-branch emissions, federal vehicle fleets, and phase-outs of regulated substances. The President would have to recheck some reg…
- Stricter rules for hazardous pollutants: mixed, medium. If enacted, the bill would repeal a Clean Air Act provision that allowed a schedule-for-compliance exemption for some hazardous air pollutants. It would redesignate related paragraphs and update cross-references. The change would tighten compliance rules, which could strengthen public health protec…

## Related bills

- 119-s-4949: Water Resources Development Act of 2026
- 119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026
- 119-s-2823: FAMILY Act
- 119-s-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act
- 119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026
- 119-s-1503: Equality Act

## Sources
- [119-s-4404 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/4404)

## Related
- [119-s-4949: Water Resources Development Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4949)
- [119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3990)
- [119-s-2823: FAMILY Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2823)
- [119-s-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-51)
- [119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5108)
- [119-s-1503: Equality Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1503)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4404 (as of 2026-09-10).