Congress Nixes PHMSA Rule: The Gulf of Mexico Name Stays Put

When the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published a new rule recently, it wasn’t about new safety protocols or pipeline routes. Instead, it was a purely editorial change meant to rename the ‘Gulf of Mexico’ to the ‘Gulf of America’ in their official documents. This joint resolution is Congress’s formal way of saying, “Nope, not happening.” By using the Congressional Review Act (CRA) mechanism, Congress is officially disapproving this specific rule, immediately stripping it of any legal effect. Essentially, this bill is a legislative veto that ensures the Gulf keeps its long-standing name in the regulatory books.

The Bureaucratic Backflip

This resolution is a textbook example of how Congress keeps federal agencies in check. The CRA (found in Chapter 8 of Title 5, U.S. Code) gives Congress a powerful tool to overturn new rules put out by the executive branch agencies. Think of it as a legislative kill switch. In this case, the switch was flipped on a rule that was arguably minor—just a name change—but still required the full legislative process to nullify. For busy people, this is a reminder that even the smallest administrative change requires oversight, and Congress is asserting its authority to decide what sticks and what doesn’t in the regulatory landscape.

Real-World Impact: Zero Change, Maximum Oversight

For the average person, this resolution means absolutely nothing changes. If you’re a fisherman, an offshore oil worker, or just someone planning a beach vacation, the body of water remains the Gulf of Mexico, both on the map and in the federal regulations governing pipelines in that area. The main takeaway here isn’t about geography; it’s about governance. By striking down this rule, Congress is signaling that it won’t rubber-stamp administrative actions, even editorial ones, that it deems unnecessary or inappropriate. While the subject matter is trivial, the use of the CRA underscores the continuous tension between the legislative and executive branches over who gets the final say on federal rules, no matter how small they seem.