Sets the rules for considering several resolutions that disapprove of recent agency regulations concerning environmental and vehicle emissions standards.
Chip Roy
Representative
TX-21
This bill streamlines the House's consideration of several joint resolutions that would disapprove of rules issued by the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Environmental Protection Agency. The resolutions target regulations related to motor vehicle usage in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, the endangered status of the Longfin Smelt, and California's vehicle emission standards. The bill sets specific debate times and procedures for voting on these resolutions. Additionally, it adjusts the calculation of legislative days by excluding a period in 2025.
| Party | Total Votes | Yes | No | Did Not Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | 220 | 216 | 0 | 4 |
Democrat | 213 | 0 | 208 | 5 |
House Resolution Fast-Tracks Votes Aimed at Scrapping Rules on California Clean Cars, Endangered Fish, and Glen Canyon Vehicles
This House Resolution sets the stage for expedited votes on several efforts to cancel specific federal agency rules. Think of it as clearing the procedural hurdles for Congress to use its 'undo button' – the Congressional Review Act (CRA) – on regulations covering everything from vehicle emissions in California to endangered species protections and motor vehicle use in a national recreation area.
Streamlining the Disapproval Process
Essentially, this resolution acts like a traffic controller for the House floor, specifically for five joint resolutions (H.J. Res. 60, 78, 87, 88, and 89). It does this by:
- Waiving 'Points of Order': This removes certain procedural objections that could otherwise be used to slow down or block consideration of the disapproval resolutions.
- Limiting Debate: Each disapproval resolution gets only one hour of debate, split evenly between parties. This significantly speeds up the process compared to regular legislative debates.
- Restricting Amendments and Motions: It ensures a quicker path to a final vote with limited procedural delays.
In plain English, this resolution makes it faster and easier for the House to vote 'yes' or 'no' on killing the targeted agency rules, reducing the time for extended debate or procedural maneuvering.
The Rules Facing the Axe
The specific regulations targeted by the underlying disapproval resolutions (which this resolution helps bring to a vote) cover significant environmental ground:
- Glen Canyon Vehicles (H.J. Res. 60): A National Park Service rule about motor vehicle use in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
- Longfin Smelt (H.J. Res. 78): A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rule listing the San Francisco Bay-Delta population of this fish as endangered.
- California Vehicle Standards (H.J. Res. 87, 88, 89): Three separate EPA decisions allowing California to enforce its own stricter standards for heavy-duty truck emissions, advanced clean cars, and lower nitrogen oxide (NOx) pollution from engines.
Real-World Ripples: Air Quality, Wildlife, and State Authority
While this resolution itself is procedural, its purpose is to enable votes that could have tangible impacts. If the underlying disapproval resolutions are eventually passed by Congress and enacted:
- Air Quality & Climate Goals: Overturning the EPA rules related to California's standards could hinder efforts to reduce vehicle pollution, potentially impacting air quality, particularly in California and the dozen-plus states that follow its stricter rules. This affects everything from public health in urban areas to broader climate change initiatives.
- Endangered Species: Disapproving the Longfin Smelt rule would remove federal protections for this specific fish population, potentially impacting biodiversity and the health of its ecosystem.
- Recreation Management: Canceling the Glen Canyon rule could change how vehicles are managed in that popular recreation area.
- State vs. Federal Power: The moves against California's EPA waivers touch on the long-standing ability of California (and other states adopting its standards) to set vehicle emission rules tougher than the federal baseline.
This resolution doesn't guarantee these rules will be overturned – that requires the separate disapproval resolutions to pass both the House and Senate and become law. However, it significantly smooths the path for those votes to happen quickly in the House.