Analyses / Whip Count Analysis / 119 · SJRES 89 Whip Count Analysis

119-SJRES-89 DC Insider Whip Count Analysis

119 · SJRES 89 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management relating to "Buffalo Field Office Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment".

park Public Lands and Natural Resources
This joint resolution nullifies the rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on November 20, 2024, which amended the 2015 resource management plan (RMP) for the Buffalo Field Office in...

Bottom line: Republicans moved the Buffalo RMPA CRA on party lines. House passed H.J.Res.130, 214–212, on Nov 18; Senate set aside S.J.Res.89 and passed the House vehicle 51–43 on Nov 20. With unified GOP control and public statements from sponsors anticipating the President’s signature, enactment likelihood is high pending enrollment/presentment. [1]Library of Congress — Congress.gov — H.J.Res.130 All Actions (119th Congress)[2]Library of Congress — Congress.gov — House Roll Call Votes index, 119th Congres…[3]U.S. Senate — Senate roll call vote 623 (Nov 20, 2025) — Passage of H.J.Res.130[4]Library of Congress — Congress.gov — S.J.Res.89 overview (Latest Action: Indefi…[5]Sen. Cynthia Lummis — Office of Sen. Lummis — Press release on Senate passage a…

Analyzed as
DC Insider
Published
21 Nov 2025
Updated
21 Nov 2025
Tags
whip-count · CRA · BLM
Unvetted
01 · Section

Breakdown: party-line expectations and actual votes

This CRA disapproval has already cleared both chambers; votes tracked closely to party lines.

  • Senate: Passed H.J.Res.130 on Nov 20, 2025 by 51–43, with six not voting; all voting Republicans supported, no Democrats crossed. [3]U.S. Senate — Senate roll call vote 623 (Nov 20, 2025) — Passage of H.J.Res.130
  • Senate procedure before passage: Agreed to proceed to S.J.Res.89 by 51–47 on Nov 19, then, by unanimous consent, pivoted to take up the House vehicle (H.J.Res.130) for final passage on Nov 20; S.J.Res.89 was then indefinitely postponed. [6]U.S. Senate — Senate roll call vote 621 (Nov 19, 2025) — Motion to proceed to S…[7]U.S. Senate Press Gallery — U.S. Senate Daily Press — Wednesday, Nov 19, 2025 (…[8]GPO — GovInfo — Senate Calendar, Nov 20, 2025 (UC agreement for H.J.Res.130 vot…[4]Library of Congress — Congress.gov — S.J.Res.89 overview (Latest Action: Indefi…
  • House: Passed H.J.Res.130 on Nov 18, 2025 by 214–212 under a special rule; vote was overwhelmingly along party lines (Republicans 214–1; Democrats 0–211; seven not voting). [9]House Rules Committee — House Rules Committee — H.Res.879 (Rule for H.J.Res.130)[1]Library of Congress — Congress.gov — H.J.Res.130 All Actions (119th Congress)[2]Library of Congress — Congress.gov — House Roll Call Votes index, 119th Congres…[10]Library of Congress — Congress.gov — Member page (Adelita S. Grijalva) with Rol…
  • Issue trigger: GAO determined on Sept 18, 2025 that BLM’s Buffalo Field Office ROD/RMPA is a “rule” under the CRA, enabling fast‑track procedures. [11]U.S. GAO — GAO Decision B-337503 (CRA applicability to Buffalo RMPA)[12]Congress.gov — Congressional Record — printing of GAO opinion (pages S6825–S682…
  • Substance of the underlying rule: BLM’s Nov 20, 2024 ROD/RMPA made federal coal in the Buffalo FO unavailable for new leasing through the planning horizon. [13]Federal Register (via FWS.gov) — Federal Register notice — Availability of ROD…
Senate final passage (H.J.Res.130)
51Yea (43 Nay; 6 NV)
Senate MTP (S.J.Res.89)
51Yea (47 Nay)
House final passage (H.J.Res.130)
214Yea (212 Nay; 7 NV)
Chamber control, 119th
53R seats in Senate; GOP House/Speaker Johnson; GOP White House
02 · Section

Key legislators and swing dynamics

Given CRA’s privileged status and the current partisan alignment, pivotal actors were floor leaders and sponsors more than cross‑party swing votes.

  • Senate floor control: Majority Leader John Thune set the UC that expired time on S.J.Res.89 and guaranteed a Nov 20 passage vote on the House vehicle; that locked the path to final action without cloture. [7]U.S. Senate Press Gallery — U.S. Senate Daily Press — Wednesday, Nov 19, 2025 (…[8]GPO — GovInfo — Senate Calendar, Nov 20, 2025 (UC agreement for H.J.Res.130 vot…
  • Senate sponsors: Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R‑WY) and Sen. John Barrasso (R‑WY) drove the measure and framed it as reversing the Buffalo RMPA; they publicly touted sending the bill to the President. [16]Web search · turn 13 #7[5]Sen. Cynthia Lummis — Office of Sen. Lummis — Press release on Senate passage a…
  • Vote alignment: On final Senate passage, every recorded Yea was Republican; Independents King and Sanders voted Nay; six senators missed the vote. No evidence of Democratic crossover. [3]U.S. Senate — Senate roll call vote 623 (Nov 20, 2025) — Passage of H.J.Res.130
  • House management: Consideration ran under H.Res.879 from the Rules Committee (217–210), setting a closed rule that enabled a narrow final passage (214–212). [9]House Rules Committee — House Rules Committee — H.Res.879 (Rule for H.J.Res.130)[1]Library of Congress — Congress.gov — H.J.Res.130 All Actions (119th Congress)
  • House sponsor: Rep. Harriet Hageman (R‑WY) led H.J.Res.130 and publicly characterized the underlying Buffalo plan as ending future coal leasing. [17]Web search · turn 8 #2[18]Web search · turn 12 #0
03 · Section

Leadership positions and procedural leverage

Unified Republican control shaped timing and outcome; Democrats opposed but had limited procedural leverage under CRA.

  • Institutional control: Republicans hold the White House (President Trump since Jan 20, 2025), a Republican Senate majority, and a Republican‑led House (Speaker Mike Johnson). [19]Associated Press — AP — Trump becomes the 47th President (Inauguration, Jan 20,…[20]U.S. Senate — Senate.gov — Party Division, 119th Congress[21]Library of Congress — Congress.gov — H.Res.4 (House informs President of electi…
  • Senate: Under CRA, leaders can discharge committee after 20 calendar days with 30 signatures and proceed by nondebatable motion; the majority used these tools plus UC to move to the House vehicle quickly. [14]CRS (Congress.gov) — CRS In Focus IF10023 — The Congressional Review Act: A Bri…[15]CRS (Congress.gov) — CRS FAQ R43992 — The Congressional Review Act: Frequently…
  • Committee posture: S.J.Res.89 was discharged by petition under 5 U.S.C. 802(c) and placed on the calendar, then later indefinitely postponed once the House vehicle advanced. [4]Library of Congress — Congress.gov — S.J.Res.89 overview (Latest Action: Indefi…
  • House: The majority used a closed rule to protect the floor strategy and minimize defections before a tight final vote. [9]House Rules Committee — House Rules Committee — H.Res.879 (Rule for H.J.Res.130)
04 · Section

Institutional context and interest groups

Stakeholder pressure and litigation history around Powder River Basin coal informed member positions, but CRA’s structure kept the vote largely partisan.

  • Triggering analysis: GAO’s opinion letter concluded the Buffalo RMPA is a CRA‑covered rule (i.e., must be submitted and is subject to disapproval), unlocking the fast‑track. [11]U.S. GAO — GAO Decision B-337503 (CRA applicability to Buffalo RMPA)
  • Underlying rule background: BLM’s Nov 2024 ROD/RMPA made all Buffalo FO coal unavailable for new leasing; the Federal Register notice memorialized effectiveness upon signature. [13]Federal Register (via FWS.gov) — Federal Register notice — Availability of ROD…
  • Advocacy signals: Wyoming delegation statements pressed for reversal, aligning with mining‑state economic arguments; environmental advocates had earlier supported the Buffalo plan to limit coal leasing. [18]Web search · turn 12 #0[22]Web search · turn 22 #7
05 · Section

Assessment: likelihood of enactment

Where things stand and what comes next.

  • Current status: House and Senate have passed an identical CRA (H.J.Res.130). The Senate set aside S.J.Res.89 and used the House vehicle to avoid enrollment delays. [1]Library of Congress — Congress.gov — H.J.Res.130 All Actions (119th Congress)[3]U.S. Senate — Senate roll call vote 623 (Nov 20, 2025) — Passage of H.J.Res.130[4]Library of Congress — Congress.gov — S.J.Res.89 overview (Latest Action: Indefi…
  • Next step: Enrollment/presentment to the President. Sponsors publicly expect a signature; given unified GOP control and administration energy posture, enactment likelihood is high. Confidence: high. [5]Sen. Cynthia Lummis — Office of Sen. Lummis — Press release on Senate passage a…
Sources cited
  1. [1] Congress.gov — H.J.Res.130 All Actions (119th Congress) Library of Congress
  2. [2] Congress.gov — House Roll Call Votes index, 119th Congress, 1st Session Library of Congress
  3. [3] Senate roll call vote 623 (Nov 20, 2025) — Passage of H.J.Res.130 U.S. Senate
  4. [4] Congress.gov — S.J.Res.89 overview (Latest Action: Indefinitely postponed 11/20/2025) Library of Congress
  5. [5] Office of Sen. Lummis — Press release on Senate passage and sending bill to President Sen. Cynthia Lummis
  6. [6] Senate roll call vote 621 (Nov 19, 2025) — Motion to proceed to S.J.Res.89 U.S. Senate
  7. [7] U.S. Senate Daily Press — Wednesday, Nov 19, 2025 (UC scheduling for H.J.Res.130) U.S. Senate Press Gallery
  8. [8] GovInfo — Senate Calendar, Nov 20, 2025 (UC agreement for H.J.Res.130 vote) GPO
  9. [9] House Rules Committee — H.Res.879 (Rule for H.J.Res.130) House Rules Committee
  10. [10] Congress.gov — Member page (Adelita S. Grijalva) with Roll Call 294 summary for H.J.Res.130 Library of Congress
  11. [11] GAO Decision B-337503 (CRA applicability to Buffalo RMPA) U.S. GAO
  12. [12] Congressional Record — printing of GAO opinion (pages S6825–S6826) Congress.gov
  13. [13] Federal Register notice — Availability of ROD and Approved RMPA for Buffalo Field Office (Nov 27, 2024) Federal Register (via FWS.gov)
  14. [14] CRS In Focus IF10023 — The Congressional Review Act: A Brief Overview CRS (Congress.gov)
  15. [15] CRS FAQ R43992 — The Congressional Review Act: Frequently Asked Questions CRS (Congress.gov)
  16. [16] Web search · turn 13 #7
  17. [17] Web search · turn 8 #2
  18. [18] Web search · turn 12 #0
  19. [19] AP — Trump becomes the 47th President (Inauguration, Jan 20, 2025) Associated Press
  20. [20] Senate.gov — Party Division, 119th Congress U.S. Senate
  21. [21] Congress.gov — H.Res.4 (House informs President of election of the Speaker & Clerk, Jan 3, 2025) Library of Congress
  22. [22] Web search · turn 22 #7

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