HRES161-119

What This Bill Does

This rule moves two Congressional Review Act disapproval resolutions and the fiscal year 2025 budget resolution to the House floor. This is a special House rule, not final enactment of the underlying policies. Its effect is to decide how the House may consider the named measures: it waives points of order, treats measures as read, sets debate time, identifies adopted committee or Rules Committee text, and preserves only the motions listed in the rule. The measures covered are H.J. Res. 20 on Department of Energy water-heater energy-conservation standards, H.J. Res. 35 on Environmental Protection Agency waste-emissions-charge procedures for petroleum and natural gas systems, and H. Con. Res. 14 on the congressional budget for fiscal year 2025 and fiscal years 2026 through 2034. That procedural design matters because it can move controversial disapproval resolutions or policy bills to a final vote while limiting the ability to raise procedural objections or offer amendments.

Who Benefits and How

Supporters of repealing the DOE water-heater rule, petroleum and natural gas operators opposing the EPA waste-emissions-charge rule, House Budget Committee leadership, and supporters of the budget resolution receive a procedural path to votes. House majority leadership benefits because the rule converts the covered measures into a controlled floor package. The House Rules Committee benefits because its report and special-rule language define the operative text and amendment process. Committee chairs benefit when they control debate time for their committee's measures. Supporters of the underlying resolutions or bills benefit because the waiver and previous-question language reduce procedural friction.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Supporters of DOE efficiency standards, supporters of the EPA methane-fee compliance rule, Members seeking budget amendments outside the rule, and opponents of H. Con. Res. 14 face procedural disadvantages. House Members seeking amendments bear a burden because amendments are barred or limited to the Rules Committee report. House minority leadership bears a burden because debate time is capped and the previous question prevents intervening motions except those named in the rule. Opponents of the covered measures lose some procedural tools because points of order against consideration and against provisions are waived. The House Clerk and floor staff must implement the timing, reading, amendment, and message instructions.

Key Provisions

• Provides consideration of H.J. Res. 20 with one hour of Energy and Commerce debate.
• Provides consideration of H.J. Res. 35 with one hour of Energy and Commerce debate.
• Provides Committee of the Whole consideration of H. Con. Res. 14 with three hours of budget and economic-goals debate.
• Waives points of order against consideration and against provisions in the covered measures.
• Limits post-debate options by ordering the previous question and barring a division demand on the budget resolution.