HJRES 124SJRES 80119th CongressIn Committee

Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management relating to "National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska Integrated Activity Plan Record of Decision".

Introduced: Sep 18, 2025

Sponsor: Rep. Begich, Nicholas [R-AK-At Large] (R-Alaska)

Environment & ClimateInfrastructure

Chamber Versions:

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

This joint resolution uses the Congressional Review Act (the CRA, chapter 8 of title 5, U.S.C.) to disapprove a Bureau of Land Management rule known as the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska Integrated Activity Plan Record of Decision (IAP ROD). The IAP ROD was issued April 25, 2022. The resolution cites a Government Accountability Office (GAO) letter dated July 24, 2025, indicating that the IAP ROD is a “rule” under the CRA. If Congress enacts this joint resolution, the rule would have no force or effect, effectively nullifying the IAP ROD and restoring the prior management approach for NPR-A. In short: the bill would end the BLM’s Integrated Activity Plan Record of Decision for the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska by formally disapproving it under the CRA.

Key Points

1The bill provides for congressional disapproval under the Congressional Review Act of the Bureau of Land Management’s NPR-A Integrated Activity Plan Record of Decision.
2It references a GAO opinion (dated July 24, 2025) that the ROD qualifies as a “rule” under the CRA.
3The specific rule being disapproved is the NPR-A Integrated Activity Plan Record of Decision, issued April 25, 2022.
4If enacted, the disapproval means the rule would have no force or effect; the BLM could not implement the provisions of the ROD as part of NPR-A management.
5The bill was introduced in the House by Mr. Begich and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected: Federal land management in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (BLM’s authority and planning decisions for NPR-A), and any activities authorized or guided by the IAP ROD (e.g., energy development, land use).Secondary group/area affected: The oil and gas industry operating in NPR-A; Alaska Native communities and subsistence users who rely on NPR-A resources; environmental and conservation groups with interests in Alaska land and wildlife; local and state stakeholders with energy development interests.Additional impacts: Reversion to prior NPR-A management approaches (i.e., no EPA/ROD-listed changes from the IAP ROD), potential effects on wildlife habitats and subsistence patterns, and potential shifts in regional economic activity related to energy development and land-use planning.The CRA allows Congress to block federal agency rules by passing a joint resolution of disapproval, which, if enacted, invalidates the rule.The bill does not insert alternative management language; it simply disapproves the existing ROD, leaving the pre-ROD framework or other ongoing planning processes as the governing approach (subject to further action by BLM or Congress).

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