House lawmakers voted to repeal an Environmental Protection Agency rule that ensures that power plants and factories are subject to stringent emission standards even if they reduce air pollutants, sending the bill to President Donald Trump for his signature.

On early Thursday morning, while up late working toward passage of the major Republican tax-cut and spending bill, the House voted 216-212 to undo a Biden administration EPA rule that prevents facilities previously subject to strict standards for seven hazardous air pollutants under the Clean Air Act from being reclassified into a less-strict category of regulation.

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The Biden EPA finalized the rule in September. Under the rule, large emitters would remain “major sources,” which are subject under the law to stricter emission requirements than those classified as “area sources.” Once a facility emits any of the seven hazardous air pollutants, it is subject to strict standards. 

The Senate passed the bill earlier this month. Sen. John Curtis (R-UT) introduced the bill in the Senate through the Congressional Review Act (CRA), which allows resolutions to pass in both chambers with simple majorities to cancel newly implemented agency rules. Curtis argued that the rule prevents facilities from improving emissions. 

“The rule put forward under the former Administration shut the door on progress. It told companies that no matter how much they invest to reduce harmful emissions, they would still be punished with permanent red tape,” Curtis said in a statement earlier this month.

“That’s not good science, it’s not good governance, and it certainly isn’t good for the environment. My resolution restores a common-sense incentive: if you clean up, you get credit for it,” he added. 

Since Trump was elected, business and manufacturing groups have urged lawmakers to review the Biden EPA’s rule. In December, the National Association of Manufacturers sent Trump a letter asking the president to re-examine the rule, stating that it is burdensome to the industry. 

“Manufacturers are committed to the communities in which they live and serve, and are dedicated to protecting the health, safety and vibrancy of those communities,” NMA wrote. 

The association added that undoing the rule would also “reduce unnecessarily burdensome regulations and allow manufacturers to innovate and implement voluntary measures to ensure strong compliance with the statute.” 

Environmental groups, though, strongly oppose overturning the rule. They argue its cancelation would weaken air pollution control. 

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“This cruel rollback would have devastating impacts on children and their families. It would eliminate the safeguards that have been in place for decades and return us to a time when industrial giants could emit the most toxic air pollutants without limits or accountability,” said Moms’ Clean Air Force.  

The resolution is yet another CRA resolution pushed through by Republicans. GOP lawmakers have been using the CRA to attempt to repeal many of the Biden administration’s energy and climate regulations.