119-HJRES-104 Journalist Public Summary

Headline Summary

Congress is weighing whether to overturn a BLM land plan that stopped new federal coal leasing in eastern Montana; the House approved the rollback, and the Senate is now taking it up. [1]Library of Congress — Congress.gov — H.J.Res.104 All Info (actions and House vo…[2]Senate Democratic Caucus — Senate Democratic Caucus — Schedule for Wednesday, O…

What It Does

H.J.Res. 104 uses the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to nullify BLM’s Record of Decision and Resource Management Plan Amendment (RMPA) for the Miles City Field Office, issued November 20, 2024. The GAO determined that this RMPA is a “rule” under the CRA, so Congress can disapprove it. If enacted, the resolution says the rule “shall have no force or effect.” [3]Library of Congress — Congress.gov — H.J.Res.104 text (Engrossed in House)[4]U.S. Government Accountability Office — GAO Decision B‑337163 — CRA applicabili…[5]U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (links to FederalRegister.gov) — Federal Register…

Why it matters: the Miles City RMPA made about 1.7 million acres unavailable for new federal coal leasing while allowing existing leases to continue—part of a broader move to end new leases in the Powder River Basin amid declining coal demand. Overturning it would reopen the door to future federal coal leasing in this area. [6]U.S. Government Accountability Office — GAO Decision B‑337163 — Details (acreag…[7]Bureau of Land Management — BLM press release — Proposed Miles City RMPA (Alter…[8]Reuters — Reuters — BLM proposes ending new coal leasing in Powder River Basin…[9]Associated Press — AP — Proposal to end new PRB coal leases; supporters and opp…

Who’s For It

• Montana’s Republican delegation (Sens. Steve Daines, Tim Sheehy; Reps. Troy Downing, Ryan Zinke) — they argue the RMPA kills future coal leasing, threatens jobs, and undermines energy security. [12]Office of Sen. Steve Daines — Sen. Daines press release — Bicameral CRA to remo…[13]Library of Congress — Congress.gov — S.J.Res.61 text (Daines/Sheehy Senate comp…
• Industry groups such as the National Mining Association — say ending new leasing harms grid reliability and state economies and conflicts with BLM’s multiple‑use mission. [14]National Mining Association — National Mining Association — Statement opposing…
• Montana officials and utilities (e.g., Governor’s office, NorthWestern Energy) — cite cost and reliability benefits tied to a stable coal supply for plants like Colstrip. [15]Office of Sen. Steve Daines — Sen. Daines floor remarks/press — supporters list…

Who’s Against It

• Environmental and community groups (Sierra Club, Powder River Basin Resource Council, Western Environmental Law Center) — support the BLM plan as a needed step to cut climate and health harms; they oppose undoing it. [16]Sierra Club — Sierra Club — Press release praising end to new PRB coal leasing[17]Powder River Basin Resource Council — Powder River Basin Resource Council — Sta…
• Northern Cheyenne Tribe (with conservation allies) — moved to defend the no‑new‑leasing decision in court, citing pollution, health, and cultural impacts; they oppose efforts to reverse it. [18]Sierra Club — Sierra Club — Feb. 20, 2025 release on Northern Cheyenne Tribe an…
• Many Democrats generally back the BLM plan’s climate rationale, while Republicans from coal states generally back the rollback, reflecting a broader partisan split over coal’s role. [9]Associated Press — AP — Proposal to end new PRB coal leases; supporters and opp…[8]Reuters — Reuters — BLM proposes ending new coal leasing in Powder River Basin…

What’s Next

Status as of October 8, 2025: The House passed H.J.Res. 104 (211–208) on September 3. The Senate agreed to proceed and scheduled a vote on final passage. If it passes the Senate and is signed by the President, the BLM plan would be void and could not be reissued in substantially the same form without new legislation. [1]Library of Congress — Congress.gov — H.J.Res.104 All Info (actions and House vo…[2]Senate Democratic Caucus — Senate Democratic Caucus — Schedule for Wednesday, O…[10]Legal Information Institute (Cornell Law School) — LII — 5 U.S.C. § 801 (CRA ef…