HRES 354119th CongressIn Committee

Providing for consideration of the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 60) providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the National Park Service relating to "Glen Canyon National Recreation Area: Motor Vehicles"; providing for consideration of the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 78) providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service relating to "Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Endangered Species Status for the San Francisco Bay-Delta Distinct Population Segment of the Longfin Smelt"; providing for consideration of the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 87) providing congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "California State Motor Vehicle and Engine Pollution Control Standards; Heavy-Duty Vehicle and Engine Emission Warranty and Maintenance Provisions; Advanced Clean Trucks; Zero Emission Airport Shuttle; Zero-Emission Power Train Certification; Waiver of Preemption; Notice of Decision"; providing for consideration of the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 88) providing congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "California State Motor Vehicle and Engine Pollution Control Standards; Advanced Clean Cars II; Waiver of Preemption; Notice of Decision"; providing for consideration of the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 89) providing congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "California State Motor Vehicle and Engine and Nonroad Engine Pollution Control Standards; The 'Omnibus' Low NOX Regulation; Waiver of Preemption; Notice of Decision"; and for other purposes.

Introduced: Apr 28, 2025

Environment & Climate

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

H. Res. 354 is a House procedural rule that sets up expedited floor consideration for five joint resolutions (H.J. Res. 60, H.J. Res. 78, H.J. Res. 87, H.J. Res. 88, H.J. Res. 89) using the Congressional Review Act (CRA) process. Each joint resolution would disapprove specific federal agency rules and thereby block those rules from taking effect (and generally prevent the agencies from issuing the same or substantially similar rules in the future). The resolution divides the five JRs into two groups handled by different committees (Natural Resources for two JRs; Energy and Commerce for three JRs), prescribes limited debate (one hour per joint resolution, with a single opportunity to recommit), and waives normal points of order to expedite consideration. It also temporarily pauses counting of legislative days for part of 2025 to facilitate this process. Specifically, the five joint resolutions target: - H.J. Res. 60: National Park Service rule on Glen Canyon National Recreation Area motor vehicles. - H.J. Res. 78: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rule designating the San Francisco Bay-Delta Distinct Population Segment of the Longfin Smelt as endangered/threatened. - H.J. Res. 87, H.J. Res. 88, H.J. Res. 89: Environmental Protection Agency rules related to California motor vehicle and engine pollution control standards (including heavy-duty standards, Advanced Clean Cars II, and Low NOX omnibus regulations). If enacted, these JRs would bar the implementation of the cited rules and prevent the agencies from issuing the same or substantially similar rules in the same form.

Key Points

1Expedited floor process for five CRA disapproval joint resolutions (H.J. Res. 60, 78, 87, 88, 89) targeting NPS, FWS, and EPA rules.
2Two schedules:
3- Sec. 2: H.J. Res. 60 and H.J. Res. 78 considered under Natural Resources Committee (one hour of debate plus one motion to recommit).
4- Sec. 4: H.J. Res. 87, H.J. Res. 88, H.J. Res. 89 considered under Energy and Commerce Committee (same debate/recommit structure).
5Provisions that all points of order against consideration and against the resolutions’ provisions are waived; each resolution is read in full.
6Debate time and procedural limits: one hour per resolution; one motion to recommit.
7Legislative-day pause: The period from April 29, 2025, through September 30, 2025, shall not count as legislative days for purposes of rule XIII, clause 7 (accelerates scheduling without counting those days as legislative days).
8Status: Introduced House resolution; sponsor not identified in the text provided.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected- Federal agencies (National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Environmental Protection Agency) and the administrative/regulatory processes they use to implement rules.- Industries and stakeholders affected by the cited rules (e.g., motor vehicle manufacturers, California automakers, and businesses regulated by environmental standards).Secondary group/area affected- California residents and air quality/climate policy interests, given the EPA’s California-specific vehicle emission standards and waivers.- Environmental groups and outdoor/recreation communities concerned with wildlife protections (e.g., longfin smelt) and public lands management.Additional impacts- If enacted, the rules targeted by these JRs would not take effect, and the agencies would generally be barred from issuing the same or substantially similar rules in the same form, affecting ongoing regulatory modernization, emissions standards, and wildlife protections.- The use of a special rule to fast-track these JRs signals congressional interest in reversing or blocking these regulatory actions, potentially influencing state-federal dynamics around California emissions policy and federal land/wildlife management.- The procedural approach (waiving points of order, reading each resolution, limiting debate) reduces the opportunity for amendment and prolonged debate, increasing the likelihood of rapid enactment if the resolutions pass.Congressional Review Act (CRA): A law that allows Congress to review and potentially disapprove new federal regulations. If Congress passes a joint resolution of disapproval, the rule generally does not take effect and agencies cannot easily reissue the same rule in substantially the same form. H. Res. 354 is a House procedural rule to enable quicker consideration of such disapproval resolutions.

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