Analyses / Whip Count Analysis / 119 · HJRES 105 Whip Count Analysis

119-HJRES-105 DC Insider Whip Count Analysis

119 · HJRES 105 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 "North Dakota Field Office Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan".

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This joint resolution nullifies the rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) relating to the Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the North Dakota Field...

HJRes 105 has already cleared both chambers on near-party lines (House 215–211; Senate 50–45) and the White House has issued a formal SAP supporting enactment; with Republicans controlling both chambers and CRA’s privileged Senate procedure, presidential signature is highly likely. [1]Library of Congress — Congress.gov – H.J.Res.105 All Actions (votes, rule, stat…[2]U.S. Senate — Senate Roll Call Vote 119-1-556 on H.J.Res.105 (final passage)[3]American Presidency Project (UCSB) — Statement of Administration Policy support…

Analyzed as
DC Insider
Published
11 Oct 2025
Updated
11 Oct 2025
Tags
Whipcount · CRA · BLM
Unvetted
01 · Section

Breakdown: vote math and caucus alignment

The resolution to nullify BLM’s North Dakota Field Office Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan (RMP) has moved with tight, largely party-line support under the Congressional Review Act (CRA). [4]Library of Congress — Congress.gov – H.J.Res.105 bill text and description

  • House final passage on September 3, 2025: 215–211. Recorded by the Clerk and Congress.gov. [1]Library of Congress — Congress.gov – H.J.Res.105 All Actions (votes, rule, stat…[5]U.S. House of Representatives — Clerk of the House – Roll Call Index showing RC…
  • House party pattern: Yeas 215 Republicans; Nays 210 Democrats and 1 Republican; no Democratic yeas; several absences. [6]LegiScan — LegiScan – House Roll Call 226 party breakdown for H.J.Res.105
  • Senate final passage on October 8, 2025: 50–45 with five not voting; all recorded YEAs were Republicans; no Democratic YEAs. [2]U.S. Senate — Senate Roll Call Vote 119-1-556 on H.J.Res.105 (final passage)
  • Chamber control/context at the time of consideration: Republicans hold Senate majority (53 R / 45 D / 2 I) and the House majority in the 119th Congress. [7]U.S. Senate — Senate.gov – Current Senators page with 119th Congress party divi…[8]Wikipedia — 119th United States Congress overview (party control context)
  • BLM confirmed the ND RMP’s issuance timing (signed January 8 and noticed mid‑January 2025), the basis for the CRA timeline that leadership used to schedule floor action. [9]Bureau of Land Management — BLM – Archived notice of ND Record of Decision and…
02 · Section

Key legislators and pivotal leverage points

Public positions and institutional roles that mattered most to the outcome.

  • Sponsor/driver: Rep. Julie Fedorchak (R‑ND) authored HJRes 105; North Dakota’s Republican state leadership publicly pressed for repeal of the RMP. [4]Library of Congress — Congress.gov – H.J.Res.105 bill text and description[10]Office of the Governor, North Dakota — North Dakota Governor statement opposing…
  • State delegation muscle: Sens. Kevin Cramer and John Hoeven publicly backed the CRA; both voted Yea. Cramer framed the CRA as restoring “multiple use” and urged quick Senate action. [11]U.S. Senate – Sen. Cramer — Sen. Kevin Cramer press release on House passage an…[2]U.S. Senate — Senate Roll Call Vote 119-1-556 on H.J.Res.105 (final passage)
  • Senate floor control: Majority Leader John Thune set the timing; the Senate adopted the motion to proceed (record vote 553) and then passed the measure under CRA’s fast‑track. [12]Library of Congress — Congress.gov – H.J.Res.105 action log noting Senate votes…[13]Senate Republican Leader — Senate GOP Leader site – Thune’s first remarks as Ma…
  • Committee posture: Senate Energy & Natural Resources under Chair Mike Lee (R‑UT) aligned with overturning the RMP; in the House, Natural Resources Chair Bruce Westerman (R‑AR) advocated for the three related CRA plans (MT, ND, AK) in Rules testimony. [14]U.S. Senate – Sen. Mike Lee — Sen. Mike Lee press release – assuming ENR chair…[15]House Committee on Natural Resources — House Natural Resources – Chairman Bruce…[16]LegiStorm (links to committee press) — Rules testimony – Westerman backing the…
  • No cross‑party coalition emerged in the Senate; moderates (e.g., Collins, Murkowski) voted with Republicans, while swing‑state Democrats held opposition. [2]U.S. Senate — Senate Roll Call Vote 119-1-556 on H.J.Res.105 (final passage)
03 · Section

Leadership influence and procedure

Outcome hinged on majority control and CRA procedure, not persuasion across the aisle.

  • CRA mechanics removed the filibuster risk: after referral and potential discharge, a non‑debatable motion to proceed applies; floor debate is capped (10 hours); passage is by simple majority. [17]Congressional Research Service — CRS In Focus – The Congressional Review Act: A…[18]Congressional Research Service — CRS – The Congressional Review Act: Frequently…
  • House floor was governed by a closed rule (H.Res. 672), minimizing amendment risk and ensuring a straight up‑or‑down vote. [1]Library of Congress — Congress.gov – H.J.Res.105 All Actions (votes, rule, stat…
  • The Senate used recorded votes both to proceed (51–47) and to pass (50–45), signaling conference‑wide whip discipline from leadership. [12]Library of Congress — Congress.gov – H.J.Res.105 action log noting Senate votes…
  • Presidential posture: The Administration issued a Statement of Administration Policy explicitly supporting HJRes 105 and indicating the President would sign it. [3]American Presidency Project (UCSB) — Statement of Administration Policy support…
04 · Section

Interest-group signals (pressure on swing votes)

Outside pressure largely broke along familiar fault lines (energy development vs. conservation planning).

  • Pro‑repeal: NFIB urged support, citing energy costs for small businesses; North Dakota’s governor and attorney general opposed the RMP and pursued repeal/litigation. [21]NFIB — NFIB letter supporting H.J.Res.105 (Sep. 4, 2025)[10]Office of the Governor, North Dakota — North Dakota Governor statement opposing…[22]ND Attorney General — North Dakota Attorney General lawsuit challenging ND RMP…
  • Anti‑repeal: National Wildlife Federation warned CRA use on land plans would create management uncertainty; Sierra Club championed BLM’s conservation‑oriented public lands rule context. [23]NWF — National Wildlife Federation statement opposing CRA use on land plans (Se…[24]Sierra Club — Sierra Club statement on BLM’s public lands rule (conservation fo…
  • Issue backdrop favored the majority: the new Administration and Interior leadership emphasized expanding drilling/mining on federal lands, aligning with GOP floor strategy. [25]News result · turn 4 #14
05 · Section

Assessment: prospects and confidence

What remains and how confident to be.

  • Status: HJRes 105 has passed both chambers and been messaged; only presidential action remains. [1]Library of Congress — Congress.gov – H.J.Res.105 All Actions (votes, rule, stat…
  • Expected outcome: Signature highly likely given the Administration’s formal support (SAP) and broader energy‑expansion posture. Confidence: high. [3]American Presidency Project (UCSB) — Statement of Administration Policy support…
  • Process note: Once signed, CRA nullifies the RMP and bars issuance of a “substantially the same” rule absent new statutory authorization—locking in policy unless Congress later reopens it. [18]Congressional Research Service — CRS – The Congressional Review Act: Frequently…
House final vote
215yea (211 nay)
Senate final vote
50yea (45 nay; 5 NV)
Senate GOP seats (context)
53seats
CRA Senate threshold
50+VP not required (simple majority)
Sources cited
  1. [1] Congress.gov – H.J.Res.105 All Actions (votes, rule, status) Library of Congress
  2. [2] Senate Roll Call Vote 119-1-556 on H.J.Res.105 (final passage) U.S. Senate
  3. [3] Statement of Administration Policy supporting H.J.Res.104/105/106 (Sep. 3, 2025) American Presidency Project (UCSB)
  4. [4] Congress.gov – H.J.Res.105 bill text and description Library of Congress
  5. [5] Clerk of the House – Roll Call Index showing RC#226 (Sep. 3, 2025) U.S. House of Representatives
  6. [6] LegiScan – House Roll Call 226 party breakdown for H.J.Res.105 LegiScan
  7. [7] Senate.gov – Current Senators page with 119th Congress party division U.S. Senate
  8. [8] 119th United States Congress overview (party control context) Wikipedia
  9. [9] BLM – Archived notice of ND Record of Decision and Approved RMP (January 2025) Bureau of Land Management
  10. [10] North Dakota Governor statement opposing finalized ND RMP (Jan. 14, 2025) Office of the Governor, North Dakota
  11. [11] Sen. Kevin Cramer press release on House passage and ND CRA strategy U.S. Senate – Sen. Cramer
  12. [12] Congress.gov – H.J.Res.105 action log noting Senate votes 553 (motion to proceed) and 556 (final) Library of Congress
  13. [13] Senate GOP Leader site – Thune’s first remarks as Majority Leader (Jan. 3, 2025) Senate Republican Leader
  14. [14] Sen. Mike Lee press release – assuming ENR chair in the 119th Congress U.S. Senate – Sen. Mike Lee
  15. [15] House Natural Resources – Chairman Bruce Westerman bio (chair confirmation) House Committee on Natural Resources
  16. [16] Rules testimony – Westerman backing the three CRA RMP resolutions (H.J.Res.104/105/106) LegiStorm (links to committee press)
  17. [17] CRS In Focus – The Congressional Review Act: A Brief Overview (IF10023) Congressional Research Service
  18. [18] CRS – The Congressional Review Act: Frequently Asked Questions (R43992) Congressional Research Service
  19. [19] House NR Democrats – DOI letter asserting RMPs are not CRA rules (Huffman release) House Committee on Natural Resources (Minority)
  20. [20] GAO Decision B‑337175 – ND RMP is a rule under the CRA (June 25, 2025) U.S. Government Accountability Office
  21. [21] NFIB letter supporting H.J.Res.105 (Sep. 4, 2025) NFIB
  22. [22] North Dakota Attorney General lawsuit challenging ND RMP (Feb. 25, 2025) ND Attorney General
  23. [23] National Wildlife Federation statement opposing CRA use on land plans (Sep. 3, 2025) NWF
  24. [24] Sierra Club statement on BLM’s public lands rule (conservation footing) Sierra Club
  25. [25] News result · turn 4 #14

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