Welcome to this follow-up edition of Climate Shift, where we track the progress of the Congressional Joint Resolutions we've previously analyzed. In this update, we examine the current status of these climate and environmental policy challenges that have emerged since President Trump's inauguration in January 2025.
The legislative landscape we've been monitoring has remained largely static since our last edition, with one notable exception that deserves your full attention. Let's dive into the current state of affairs.
Resolution Status Overview
The majority of Joint Resolutions targeting climate regulations have shown limited movement through the congressional process since our last analysis. Most remain in committee or awaiting floor action in their respective chambers, creating a continued sense of uncertainty for affected industries and environmental advocates alike.
However, one resolution has completed its journey through the legislative process, marking a significant shift in federal climate policy.
Methane Emissions Rule Officially Struck Down
(H.J.Res.35) - SIGNED INTO LAW
The Congressional Review Act resolution targeting US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s methane waste emissions rule has been signed into law, marking the first major climate regulation successfully nullified under the new administration. This development represents a concrete victory for oil and gas interests and signals the potency of the CRA as a deregulatory tool.
This successful nullification permanently eliminates the regulatory framework that would have implemented the Inflation Reduction Act's methane fee provisions. For oil and gas operators who would have faced charges for excess emissions, this creates immediate regulatory relief and certainty. More broadly, it sets a procedural and political precedent for additional regulatory rollbacks through the CRA process.
The successful challenge to the methane rule represents a direct dismantling of a key climate provision from the Inflation Reduction Act. This is particularly significant given methane's potency as a greenhouse gas – it's more than 80 times more powerful than CO2 in the short term. The resolution's passage demonstrates the administration's willingness and ability to use legislative mechanisms to fundamentally alter the trajectory of federal climate policy.
With the resolution now signed into law, the EPA finds itself permanently prohibited from issuing a "substantially similar" rule without new congressional authorization – effectively ending federal methane fee regulation for the foreseeable future. Industry can now operate without concern for implementation of these fees, creating a very different regulatory environment than existed just months ago.
Status of Other Joint Resolutions
The remaining resolutions we've been tracking continue their journey through the legislative process with little public movement since our last update. The challenges to heavy-duty vehicle emissions standards, water heater efficiency requirements, HFC regulations, and appliance certification frameworks remain active but have not yet reached final votes in both chambers.
This period of suspended animation creates its own form of regulatory uncertainty, as affected industries must prepare for multiple potential outcomes. The lack of movement doesn't necessarily indicate declining interest – rather, it likely reflects strategic prioritization by congressional leadership and the administration.
What To Watch
As the 60-legislative-day window for CRA resolutions continues, several developments bear watching. The successful methane resolution may serve as a template for action on other climate regulations, potentially accelerating consideration of pending resolutions. Senate action on House-passed resolutions could materialize quickly, particularly as leadership gauges the political reception to the methane rule nullification.
We should also watch for agency responses to these legislative challenges. With one major rule now officially struck down, EPA and other agencies may begin internal planning for a post-regulatory environment in affected sectors. Markets and industries, meanwhile, face decisions about whether to continue voluntary emissions reductions and efficiency improvements in the absence of federal requirements.
The story of climate policy in 2025 continues to be written through these congressional actions. The methane rule nullification represents not just a single policy change, but potentially the beginning of a broader shift in the federal approach to environmental regulation.
1. No Updates - Heavy-Duty Vehicle Emissions Rule on the Chopping Block
(1/22/2025 H.J.Res.26)
House Republicans have launched a direct assault on Biden-era vehicle emissions standards with Rep. Russ Fulcher (R-ID) introducing a resolution to nullify US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s greenhouse gas regulations for heavy-duty vehicles.
Status: Introduced
Actions:
1/22/2025 introduced in House by House of Representatives
1/22/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce by House of Representatives
2. No Updates - Gas Water Heater Standards Under Fire: Senate Republicans Target Efficiency Rule
(1/23/2025 S.J.Res.4)
Senate Republicans, led by Ted Cruz (R-TX), have launched a direct challenge to energy efficiency standards for gas water heaters. This resolution represents another targeted effort to dismantle Biden-era energy conservation requirements.
Status: Introduced
Actions:
1/23/2025 read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (Senate)
2/12/2025 Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources discharged,, by petition, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 802(c) (Senate)
2/12/2025 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders Calendar no. 12 (Senate)
3. No Updates - HFC Regulation Under Attack: Republicans Target Climate Super-Pollutant Rule
(1/24/2025 H.J.Res.30)
House Republicans have launched another strike against climate regulations, with Rep. Neal Dunn (R-FL) introducing a resolution to eliminate rules controlling hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), powerful greenhouse gases used in refrigeration and air conditioning.
Status: Introduced
Actions:
Introduced in House (House)
1/24/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce (House)
4. Signed into Law - Methane Emissions Rule Struck Down by Congress
(2/4/2025 H.J.Res.35)
In a swift and decisive victory for the oil and gas industry, Congress has successfully nullified EPA's methane waste emissions rule through a Congressional Review Act resolution. The measure, introduced by Rep. Pfluger (R-TX), eliminates regulations that would have imposed charges on large methane emitters.
Status: Passed by Congress, to President
Actions:
2/4/2025 Introduced in House (House)
2/4/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. (House)
2/25/2025 Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 161 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.J. Res. 20, H.J. Res. 35 and H. Con. Res. 14. The resolution provides for consideration of two joint resolutions, H.J.Res.20, under a closed rule and H.J.Res. 35, under a closed rule. Also, the resolution provides for consideration of H. Con. Res. 14, under a closed rule. The joint resolutions are debatable for one hour each and the concurrent resolution is debatable for 3 hours. (House)
2/26/2025 Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 161. (consideration: CR H846-853) (House)
2/26/2025 Rule provides for consideration of H.J. Res. 20, H.J. Res. 35 and H. Con. Res. 14. The resolution provides for consideration of two joint resolutions, H.J.Res.20, under a closed rule and H.J.Res. 35, under a closed rule. Also, the resolution provides for consideration of H. Con. Res. 14, under a closed rule. The joint resolutions are debated for one hour each and the concurrent resolution is debated for 3 hours. (House)
2/26/2025 DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.J. Res. 35. (House)
2/26/2025 DEBATE - The House resumed debate on H.J. Res. 35. (House)
2/26/2025 The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. (House)
2/26/2025 POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.J. Res. 35, the Chair put the question on passage of the joint resolution, and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Pallone demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced. (House)
2/26/2025 Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H859-860) (House)
2/26/2025 On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 220 - 206, 1 Present (Roll no. 52). (text: CR H846) (House)
2/26/2025 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2/27/2025 Received in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 52 - 47. Record Vote Number: 97. (consideration: CR S1419) (Senate)
2/27/2025 Message on Senate action sent to the House. (Senate)
3/4/2025 Presented to President. (House)
Updates:
3/14/2025 Signed by President.
3/14/2025 Became Public Law No: 119-2.
5. No Updates - Senate Methane Resolution Advances
(2/4/2025 S.J.Res.12)
Senate Republicans, led by John Hoeven (R-ND), mounted a parallel effort to strike down EPA's methane emissions rule before ultimately deferring to the House-passed version of the same measure.
Status: Introduced
Actions:
2/4/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (Senate)
2/20/2025 Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works discharged, by petition, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 802(c). (Senate)
2/20/2025 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 14. (Senate)
2/26/2025 Motion to proceed to consideration of measure agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 52 - 47. Record Vote Number: 96. (CR S1391) (Senate)
2/26/2025 Measure laid before Senate by motion. (consideration: CR S1391) (Senate)
2/27/2025 Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S1413) (Senate)
2/27/2025 Indefinitely postponed by Senate by Unanimous Consent. (Senate)
6. No Updates - Senate Takes Aim at HFC Regulations in Parallel Attack
(2/5/2025 S.J.Res.14)
Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) has introduced a Senate companion resolution targeting EPA's hydrofluorocarbon regulations, creating a two-chamber approach to eliminating rules on these potent greenhouse gases.
Status: Introduced
Actions:
2/5/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (Senate)
7. No Updates - HFC Regulation Challenge Reintroduced with Expanded Support
(2/7/2025 H.J.Res.38)
Rep. Neal Dunn (R-FL) has doubled down on efforts to eliminate EPA's HFC regulations by introducing a new resolution with expanded co-sponsor support. This targeted move against climate super-pollutants shows Republican determination to dismantle key environmental rules.
Status: Introduced
Actions:
2/7/2025 Introduced in House (House)
2/7/2025 Refereed to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce (House)
8. No Updates - Appliance Efficiency Standards Struck Down by House
(2/12/2025 H.J.Res.42)
The House has passed a resolution to eliminate DOE's appliance efficiency certification framework, advancing Republican efforts to dismantle energy conservation requirements for common household devices.
Status: Passed House
Actions:
2/12/2025 Introduced in House (House)
2/12/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. (House)
3/3/2025 Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 177 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.J. Res. 42, H.J. Res. 61 and S.J. Res. 11. The resolution provides for consideration of H.J. Res. 42, H.J. Res. 61, and S.J. Res. 11 under a closed rule with one hour of general debate on each measure. The resolution also provides for one motion to recommit on H.J. Res. 42 and H.J. Res. 61 and one motion to commit on S.J. Res. 11. (House)
3/5/2025 Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 177. (consideration: CR H991-996) (House)
3/5/2025 Rule provides for consideration of H.J. Res. 42, H.J. Res. 61 and S.J. Res. 11. The resolution provides for consideration of H.J. Res. 42, H.J. Res. 61, and S.J. Res. 11 under a closed rule with one hour of general debate on each measure. The resolution also provides for one motion to recommit on H.J. Res. 42 and H.J. Res. 61 and one motion to commit on S.J. Res. 11. (House)
3/5/2025 DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.J. Res. 42. (House)
3/5/2025 The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. (House)
3/5/2025 POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.J. Res. 42, the Chair put the question on passage of the joint resolution and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Pallone demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced. (House)
3/5/2025 Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H997-998) (House)
3/5/2025 On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 222 - 203 (Roll no. 59). (text: CR H991) (House)
3/5/2025 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. (House)
3/6/2025 Received in the Senate. (Senate)
What's Next in Climate Shift?
While Congressional Joint Resolutions have been our focus these last two issues, the landscape of climate policy is being reshaped through multiple channels simultaneously. The successful nullification of the methane emissions rule demonstrates that significant policy shifts are indeed underway, even if most resolutions remain in legislative limbo.
In our next edition of Climate Shift, we'll be jumping back into examining the next batch of Executive Orders, Notices, and Agency Announcements that are reshaping America's environmental regulatory framework.
We'll be combing through recent pronouncements from the White House, EPA, Department of Energy, and other key agencies to identify emerging patterns, policy priorities, and implementation challenges. These executive actions often move more swiftly than legislative measures and can have immediate impacts on regulatory enforcement and agency priorities.
Our analysis will continue to focus on:
The relationship between these executive actions and the Congressional Review Act efforts we've been tracking
How agencies are interpreting and implementing these directives
Early impacts on regulated industries and environmental protection efforts
Potential legal challenges and their likelihood of success
The story of climate policy in 2025 continues to unfold through these intertwined legislative and executive actions. The methane rule nullification may represent just the beginning of a broader shift in federal environmental regulation – one that will become clearer as we examine the full spectrum of policy mechanisms being deployed.
Stay with us as we continue to navigate this rapidly evolving landscape. Whether you're a compliance officer, sustainability director, policy advocate, or concerned citizen, our goal remains providing you with timely, accurate, and actionable analysis of these consequential developments.
Until next time,
Maria