HJRES 111119th CongressIn Committee

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 "Barred Owl Management Strategy".

Introduced: Jul 23, 2025

Sponsor: Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22] (R-Texas)

Environment & Climate

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

This joint resolution would use the Congressional Review Act (CRA) process to disapprove a rule issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service called the Barred Owl Management Strategy. Specifically, it states that Congress disapproves the rule (issued Sept. 6, 2024, with a Government Accountability Office opinion dated May 28, 2025 asserting it is a CRA-regulated rule) and directs that the rule have no force or effect. In practical terms, if enacted, the rule would be nullified and could not take effect. The measure is introduced in the House (with a broad group of cosponsors led by Rep. Nehls) and would proceed under the CRA, which gives Congress the power to block federal agency rules; the bill’s text signals intent to revoke the Barred Owl Management Strategy through congressional action rather than court or agency revision.

Key Points

1Provides congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code (the Congressional Review Act) of the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Barred Owl Management Strategy rule.
2Cites the rule as issued on September 6, 2024 (as a record of decision) and cites a GAO opinion dated May 28, 2025 concluding that the record of decision constitutes a rule under the CRA.
3States that the rule shall have no force or effect if the joint resolution is enacted.
4Introduced in the House by Rep. Nehls with a broad list of cosponsors; referred to the Committee on Natural Resources.
5The action represents a use of the CRA disapproval mechanism to nullify agency regulatory action, subject to normal legislative process (i.e., passage by both chambers and potential signature or veto by the President).

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected: Wildlife-management policy and implementation, particularly around Barred Owls and the management strategy intended to address Barred Owl impacts on other species (e.g., potential effects on habitat or populations of sensitive owls).Secondary group/area affected: Federal and state wildlife agencies, land managers, and stakeholders involved in wildlife conservation, forest management, and habitat protection; potential shifts in how federal wildlife decisions are made or revised.Additional impacts:- Potential changes to conservation planning and funding tied to Barred Owl management actions.- Legal and administrative implications for the interaction between the Endangered Species Act, the National Environmental Policy Act process, and wildlife management authorities.- Political implications in terms of inter-branch balance of regulatory authority and potential challenges to future agency actions under the CRA.

Generated by gpt-5-nano on Oct 8, 2025