HR 3397 United States House · 118th Congress

WEST Act of 2024

HR 3397, the WEST Act of 2024, requires the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to withdraw its 2023 proposed rule titled "Conservation and Landscape Health" (published at 88 Fed. Reg. 19583). The bill mandates that the BLM Director must immediately withdraw this specific proposed rule and cannot take any action to finalize, implement, or enforce it or any substantially similar rule. This bill directly affects the BLM agency by halting the regulatory process for this conservation-focused rule. It is a procedural measure that prevents the rule from moving forward, without creating new policy or impacting other entities.

Issues: ✓ Energy ✗ Environment

Sub-Topics: Conservation Public Lands

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

May 2023

Committee Review

May 2024

House Passage

Apr 2024

Senate Passage

President

Introduced May 17, 2023 Last action May 1, 2024

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced in House → Engrossed in House · 2 edits · Apr 30, 2024

MINOR

The bill was updated to reflect that the BLM's Conservation and Landscape Health rule has moved from a proposed stage to a final rule. Instead of directing the Director to withdraw a proposed rule and block its finalization, the engrossed version now declares that the final rule 'shall have no force or effect.' A short title (WEST Act of 2024) was also added.

Scope change

The bill's operative effect shifted from preventing a rule from being finalized to voiding a rule that has already been finalized. The practical outcome is similar (the rule does not apply), but the legal mechanism and timing differ.

SCOPE

The mechanism for undoing the BLM rule changed from directing the Director to withdraw a proposed rule and prohibiting its finalization, to declaring that the already-finalized rule has no force or effect. This reflects that the rule was finalized between versions.

TECHNICAL

A short title section was added, naming the act the 'Western Economic Security Today Act of 2024' or 'WEST Act of 2024.'

Floor votes · House Apr 30, 2024

How they voted

212–202

Passed · 15 other

Total votes 429

Apr 30, 2024

D Democratic212

3 Yea 201 Nay 8

94% Nay

I Independent1

1 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican216

208 Yea 1 Nay 7

96% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 1, 2024

Committee

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

upper

Apr 30, 2024

Lower · Passed

On passage Passed by recorded vote: 212 - 202 (Roll no. 165). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H2740)

lower

Apr 30, 2024

Lower · Passed

Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 212 - 202 (Roll no. 165). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H2740)

lower

Apr 30, 2024

Lower · Passed

Ms. Kamlager-Dove moved to recommit to the Committee on Natural Resources. (text: CR H2748)

lower

Apr 29, 2024

Lower · Passed

Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1173 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 615, H.R. 2925, H.R. 3195, H.R. 764, H.R. 3397, H.R. 6285 and H.R. 6090. The rule provides for consideration of H.R. 615, H.R. 2925, H.R. 3195, H.R. 764, H.R. 3397, and H.R. 6090 under a closed rule, and H.R. 6285 under a structured rule. The rule provides for one hour of general debate and one motion to recommit on each bill.

lower

Feb 9, 2024

Lower · Passed

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 118-378.

lower

Jun 21, 2023

Lower · Passed

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

lower

Jun 21, 2023

Introduced

Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 20 - 16.

lower

Jun 15, 2023

Lower · Passed

Committee Hearings Held

lower

May 17, 2023

Committee

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

lower

May 17, 2023

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

1 primary · 20 co-sponsors