Providing for consideration of the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 20) providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Energy relating to "Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Gas-fired Instantaneous Water Heaters"; providing for consideration of the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 35) providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "Waste Emissions Charge for Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems: Procedures for Facilitating Compliance, Including Netting and Exemptions"; and providing for consideration of the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 14) establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2025 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2026 through 2034.
This House Rules Resolution (H. Res. 161) is a procedural measure that sets the floor rules for quickly considering three separate measures in the 119th Congress: (1) H.J. Res. 20, a joint resolution disapproving a Department of Energy rule on Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Gas-fired Instantaneous Water Heaters under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) framework; (2) H.J. Res. 35, a joint resolution disapproving an Environmental Protection Agency rule titled “Waste Emissions Charge for Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems: Procedures for Facilitating Compliance, Including Netting and Exemptions”; and (3) H. Con. Res. 14, a concurrent resolution establishing the fiscal year 2025 budget and setting budgetary levels for fiscal years 2026–2034. The resolution speeds floor consideration, waives ordinary procedural barriers, and sets specific time limits for debate and motions to recommit. In short, it structures and limits debate around disapproval of two federal rules and around a budget framework for the next decade.
Key Points
- 1Provides for expedited consideration of H.J. Res. 20 (DOE water heater standards) and H.J. Res. 35 (EPA waste emissions charge rule) by waiving points of order and advancing them to final passage with limited debate and a single motion to recommit.
- 2Specifies identical floor treatment for both disapproval resolutions: about one hour of debate (split between the chair and ranking member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce or their designees) and one motion to recommit.
- 3Provides for consideration of H. Con. Res. 14 (FY2025 budget resolution) in the House via the Committee of the Whole if the Speaker chooses to proceed, dispensing with the first reading, and outlining three hours of general debate (two hours on the budget, one hour on economic goals and policies), including a designated debate allocation between Representatives Schweikert and Beyer or their designees.
- 4Requires the Committee on the Budget’s printed amendment to be considered as adopted, and requires the concurrent resolution to be read and amended as reported, with amendments for mathematical consistency allowed under the Congressional Budget Act.
- 5States that the concurrent resolution shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question, and establishes specific procedural steps for rising from the Committee of the Whole and reporting back to the House.
- 6Overall, the resolution is purely procedural and aimed at governing how these three measures move through the House floor—not a substantive policy change in itself.