SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) 鈥� California Gov. Gavin Newsom plans to meet with the Biden administration this week to discuss zero-emission vehicles and disaster relief 鈥� issues that have been targeted in the past by
The Democratic governor is leaving for Washington on Monday and will return home Wednesday, his office said. Newsom will also meet with California鈥檚 congressional delegation.
He is seeking federal approval for state climate rules, a $5.2 billion reimbursement for emergency funding during the COVID-19 pandemic and updates to the state's Medicaid program, along with other priorities.
The trip comes days after Newsom called for state lawmakers to in December to protect California's liberal policies ahead of Trump's return to office in January.
California won against most of the Trump administration's legal challenges over the state's environmental and other progressive policies during the Republican's first term, said Thad Kousser, a political science professor at the University of California San Diego.
鈥淭he question is: Has Donald Trump changed the legal playing field so much through the court appointments of his first term that he'll be able to win on policies in his second term?鈥� he said.
As president, Trump appointed , including three justices to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Trump administration in 2019 to enforce its own tailpipe emissions standards. President Joe Biden later , which was .
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency typically sets standards for emissions from passenger cars, trucks and other vehicles, but California has historically been granted waivers to impose its own, stricter standards.
California has eight climate rules awaiting waivers from the EPA. They include measures to require all new cars sold in the state be by 2035, transition away from , and update emission standards for pollutants from heavy-duty vehicles.
Gil Cisneros, who was elected to represent Los Angeles County in the U.S. House of Representatives, said in an email that his fellow Democrats have a responsibility to protect key policies even if Republicans retain control of the House.
鈥淚f Donald Trump follows through with such promises as eliminating the Affordable Care Act, mass deportations, raising tariffs, it is beholden on us to communicate to the American people and convince them how his policies will hurt the economy and their pocketbook," Cisneros said.
Trump Vice President Kamala Harris, a former California prosecutor, in the battle for the nation鈥檚 top job. Newsom has become a foil for Trump over the years, and he was a prominent advocate for Biden鈥檚 鈥� and then Harris鈥� 鈥� campaign.
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Associated Press writer Michael R. Blood in Los Angeles contributed.
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Austin is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Austin on Twitter: @
Sophie Austin, The Associated Press
