HRES294-119

What This Bill Does

This special rule combines two CFPB Congressional Review Act disapproval resolutions, two policy bills, and separate House-procedure actions. 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 S.J. Res. 18 on the CFPB overdraft-lending rule for very large financial institutions, S.J. Res. 28 on CFPB supervision of larger participants in general-use digital consumer payment applications, H.R. 1526 limiting district-court injunctive relief, H.R. 22 requiring proof of U.S. citizenship to register for federal elections, H. Res. 293 on announcing pairs, and H. Res. 164, which is laid on the table. 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

Very large financial institutions opposing the overdraft rule, digital payment application providers subject to CFPB larger-participant supervision, supporters of limiting nationwide injunctions, supporters of proof-of-citizenship voter registration, and Members who use pair announcements benefit procedurally. 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

Consumers protected by CFPB overdraft and digital-payment rules, litigants seeking broad district-court injunctions, voter-registration applicants without ready citizenship documentation, Members seeking open amendments, and supporters of H. Res. 164 bear procedural or policy burdens. 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 S.J. Res. 18 with Financial Services Committee debate and a motion to commit.
• Provides consideration of S.J. Res. 28 with Financial Services Committee debate and a motion to commit.
• Provides consideration of H.R. 1526 with the Judiciary Committee substitute treated as adopted.
• Provides consideration of H.R. 22 with House Administration Committee debate and one motion to recommit.
• Adopts H. Res. 293 on written-list pair announcements.
• Tables H. Res. 164.