Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Veterans Affairs relating to "Reproductive Health Services".
Summary
What This Bill Does
H.J.Res.144 is a Congressional Review Act disapproval resolution. It targets the Department of Veterans Affairs rule relating to Reproductive Health Services and provides that the rule shall have no force or effect. The title identifies the targeted VA rule as a reproductive health services rule, so disapproval would nullify that VA policy rather than create a new veterans health program. The practical result is not a new replacement rule; it is a congressional veto of the agency action, which can also restrict the agency from issuing a substantially similar rule without new statutory authority.
Who Benefits and How
Anti-abortion policy advocates benefit because disapproval would remove or prevent the regulatory obligations created by the rule. Members of Congress opposing the rule benefit because the CRA provides a direct vehicle to nullify the agency action. Regulated parties benefit from clearer congressional opposition to the rule and less near-term implementation risk. State officials opposing abortion-related VA services benefit if disapproval removes the federal rule.
Who Bears the Burden and How
Department of Veterans Affairs rulemaking staff must respond to congressional disapproval and may be constrained from issuing a substantially similar rule. Veterans seeking reproductive health services bear the burden if protections, standards, or program changes in the rule are blocked. Congressional oversight committees must handle the policy consequences of removing the rule without passing a replacement. VA clinicians and veterans health administrators may lose a uniform federal policy for covered reproductive health services.
Key Provisions
- Provides congressional disapproval of the Department of Veterans Affairs rule relating to Reproductive Health Services.
- Blocks the rule by declaring that it shall have no force or effect.
- Uses the Congressional Review Act rather than ordinary notice-and-comment rulemaking.
- Restricts the agency's ability to issue a substantially similar rule unless Congress authorizes it.
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Uses the Congressional Review Act to disapprove the Department of Veterans Affairs rule relating to Reproductive Health Services, causing that rule to have no force or effect.
Key Policy Areas
Administrative Law, Congressional Review Act
Primary Purpose
Uses the Congressional Review Act to disapprove the Department of Veterans Affairs rule relating to Reproductive Health Services, causing that rule to have no force or effect.
Policy Domains
Resolution provisions
Identified Gains
- Anti-abortion policy advocates
- Members of Congress opposing the rule
- Regulated parties
- Congressional oversight committees
Identified Costs
- Department of Veterans Affairs rulemaking staff
- Veterans seeking reproductive health services
- Congressional oversight committees
- Program administrators
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
In CommitteeReferred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Introduced in House
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
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