Environment

HJRES 35 is a congressional resolution disapproving an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that established procedures for emissions charges on petroleum and natural gas systems. Specifically, it targets the EPA’s November 2024 rule titled "Waste Emissions Charge for Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems: Procedures for Facilitating Compliance, Including Netting and Exemptions," which would have required companies to pay fees based on emissions. The resolution, passed by both chambers in February 2025, nullifies the rule, preventing it from taking effect. This directly affects oil and gas companies subject to the EPA’s emissions regulations, removing a specific compliance mechanism they would have faced.

HRES 177 is a procedural resolution that sets the rules for the House to consider three separate disapproval resolutions. It enables debate and voting on H.J. Res. 42 (to disapprove a Department of Energy appliance energy efficiency rule), H.J. Res. 61 (to disapprove an EPA rule on tire manufacturing emissions), and S.J. Res. 11 (to disapprove a Bureau of Ocean Energy Management rule protecting marine archaeological resources). The resolution waives most procedural objections and limits debate to one hour per disapproval measure. It does not change any regulations itself but provides the process for Congress to potentially reject them.

HRES 161 is a procedural resolution that establishes rules for the House of Representatives to consider three specific measures: (1) a joint resolution disapproving an Energy Department rule on water heater efficiency standards, (2) a joint resolution disapproving an EPA rule on emissions charges for gas systems, and (3) a concurrent resolution setting the federal budget for fiscal year 2025 and future years. It waives procedural objections, sets time limits for debate (one hour each for the first two), and outlines the voting process for these items. This resolution itself does not change policy but enables Congress to vote on the underlying disapproval measures and budget resolution. It affects House members and the legislative process, not direct policy outcomes for the public or industries.

The Protecting American Energy Production Act (HR 26) states that Congress believes states should have primary authority to regulate hydraulic fracturing (fracking) for oil and natural gas on state and private lands. It prohibits the President from imposing a moratorium on fracking without a new law passed by Congress. This bill directly affects federal executive authority by preventing unilateral federal bans and reinforces state regulatory roles. The key provision ensures any federal restriction on fracking would require a specific act of Congress, rather than executive action.

This bill extends the Nutria Eradication and Control program's authorization period through 2030 (previously set to expire in 2025) and corrects a minor technical error in the original 2003 law's reference to the Secretary. It does not create new policy or change program requirements, only maintaining the existing framework for managing invasive nutria rodents. The program directly affects wetland ecosystems and landowners in states where nutria are established, primarily Maryland and Delaware. This is a procedural reauthorization with no substantive policy changes.