HRES177-119

What This Bill Does

This special rule packages three Congressional Review Act disapproval resolutions for floor consideration. 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. 42 on Department of Energy certification, labeling, and enforcement provisions for certain consumer products and commercial equipment; H.J. Res. 61 on Environmental Protection Agency hazardous-air-pollutant standards for rubber tire manufacturing; and S.J. Res. 11 on Bureau of Ocean Energy Management protections for marine archaeological resources. 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

Manufacturers and commercial-equipment sellers opposing DOE appliance compliance rules, rubber tire manufacturers opposing EPA hazardous-air-pollutant standards, offshore-energy developers affected by BOEM archaeological-resource protections, and House majority leadership benefit from protected floor 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 appliance certification and labeling enforcement, communities protected by hazardous-air-pollutant rules, marine archaeological resource advocates, Members seeking open amendments, and opponents of the disapproval resolutions bear the burden. 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. 42 with Energy and Commerce Committee debate.
• Provides consideration of H.J. Res. 61 with Energy and Commerce Committee debate.
• Provides consideration of S.J. Res. 11 with Natural Resources Committee debate and one motion to commit.
• Waives points of order against consideration and provisions for each disapproval resolution.
• Limits each covered resolution to the debate and final-vote structure specified in the rule.