Legislative Activity

This bill formally expresses Congress's disapproval of a specific rule issued by the Bureau of Land Management's North Dakota Field Office regarding its Resource Management Plan. By invoking the Congressional Review Act, this legislation voids the BLM's submitted rule, preventing it from taking effect. Essentially, Congress is vetoing the BLM's proposed management plan for North Dakota.

This Act establishes a new "certificate of crossing" requirement for energy infrastructure projects that cross the U.S. border with Canada or Mexico, streamlining approvals while maintaining environmental review. It significantly eliminates the need for Presidential permits for new cross-border energy facilities, such as pipelines and transmission lines. Furthermore, the bill speeds up the approval process for certain natural gas import/export applications handled by FERC. These changes aim to strengthen North American energy security by modernizing the regulatory framework for cross-border energy connections.

The CABLE Expansion Act establishes strict, mandatory deadlines for local franchising authorities to approve or deny requests from cable companies for placing or modifying necessary equipment. While local authorities retain control over the physical placement of these "covered facilities," they cannot issue denials that effectively block the provision of promised cable services. If a local authority fails to act within the specified 90 or 150-day timeframe, the request is automatically deemed approved.

The Baseload Reliability Protection Act prohibits owners of certain dispatchable power plants in areas facing high or elevated risk of electricity shortages from retiring those units or switching their fuel source. Owners can seek an exemption from this ban from FERC, which must grant it if continued operation causes financial hardship or if retirement does not harm grid reliability. The Department of Energy may offer financial assistance to keep essential, money-losing plants operational.

This bill designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 840 Front Street in Casselton, North Dakota, as the "Commander Delbert Austin Olson Post Office". It also mandates that all references to this facility in any federal record will now refer to it by this new name.

The Ending Intermittent Energy Subsidies Act of 2025 aims to significantly reduce federal support for wind and solar energy production. This bill terminates the transferability of certain non-renewable portions of clean electricity tax credits. Furthermore, it institutes a four-year phase-out, ultimately eliminating both the clean electricity production and investment tax credits specifically for solar and wind power generation.

This resolution declares that the retirement of reliable, always-on power generation facilities before adequate replacements are available poses a significant threat to the stability of the U.S. electric grid. Congress expresses concern that current policies are leading to insufficient energy reserves, risking power shortages amid rising demand from sectors like AI. The resolution supports executive actions aimed at immediately boosting domestic energy production to ensure grid reliability and affordability.

This joint resolution seeks to disapprove and nullify a recent final rule issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) concerning the reclassification of major pollution sources as area sources under the Clean Air Act. Congress is using its authority to reject this specific EPA regulation, preventing it from taking legal effect. If passed, the EPA's rule published on December 29, 2023, will be voided.

The North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act of 2025 authorizes the State of North Dakota to exchange certain state trust land parcels located within Indian reservations for substantially equal value in unappropriated federal land. This process requires mutual agreement on valuation, ensures that relinquished lands within reservations may be taken into trust for the affected Tribe upon request, and protects existing leases and tribal rights. The Act establishes a clear mechanism for the orderly conveyance and transfer of these lands between the State and the Federal government.

This bill congratulates the North Dakota State University (NDSU) Bison football team on their victory in the 2024 NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision title. It celebrates the team's remarkable achievements, including multiple national championships and an outstanding winning record. The bill also acknowledges the contributions of coaches, staff, university leadership, and fans in supporting the team's success and fostering a culture of excellence at NDSU.