119-HJRES-105 DC Insider Whip Count Analysis

Bill brief (what this CRA targets)

H.J.Res. 105 disapproves the Bureau of Land Management’s “North Dakota Field Office Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan” (ROD/RMP). GAO determined on June 25, 2025 that the North Dakota RMP is a “rule” for CRA purposes; the enrolled text references that opinion and the June 26 Congressional Record insertion. [6]U.S. GAO — GAO Decision B-337175 — Applicability of CRA to BLM North Dakota RMP…[7]govinfo — GovInfo — H.J.Res.105 Enrolled Bill Text

• BLM signed the ROD on January 8, 2025; availability notice posted mid‑January. [8]Bureau of Land Management — BLM — Record of Decision and Approved RMP for North…
• Key state assertions against the RMP (used by proponents): closures affecting ~99% of federal coal acreage and 44% of federally owned fluid mineral acreage. [9]State of North Dakota — ND Governor — Statement opposing BLM ND RMP (Jan 14, 20…

Breakdown — expected and actual support

Votes tracked to party leadership positions and procedural posture; margins reflect the Republican majorities in both chambers during the 119th Congress. [10]Senate GOP Leader site — Sen. John Thune — First remarks as Senate Majority Lea…

• Party-line expectations held: House passage closely tracked GOP leadership’s rule and floor strategy; Democrats opposed. [2]Congress.gov — Congress.gov — H.J.Res.105 All Actions
• Senate outcome mapped to GOP majority and CRA fast‑track (simple‑majority, non‑filibusterable). [5]CRS / Congress.gov — CRS — The Congressional Review Act (CRA): Frequently Asked…

Key legislators (pivots and posture)

• House sponsor: Rep. Julie Fedorchak (R‑ND‑AL); led messaging that RMP constrained ND energy development. [11]Web search · turn 20 #0
• State delegation drivers: Sens. Kevin Cramer and John Hoeven pressed GAO, led Senate push; Cramer’s office framed the vote as overturning a “Biden‑era” RMP. [6]U.S. GAO — GAO Decision B-337175 — Applicability of CRA to BLM North Dakota RMP…[12]U.S. Senate — Sen. Kevin Cramer — Press release on Senate passage (Oct 8, 2025)
• House floor managers: Chair Bruce Westerman (R‑AR) managed debate for majority; Ranking Member Joe Neguse (D‑CO) led opposition. [1]govinfo — Congressional Record page H3791 (House debate on H.J.Res.105)
• Committee gatekeepers: House Natural Resources (Chair Westerman). Senate Energy & Natural Resources (Chair Mike Lee; Ranking Member Martin Heinrich). [13]House Committee on Natural Resources — House Natural Resources Committee — Chai…[14]Congress.gov — Senate Energy & Natural Resources — Committee membership (119th)
• Senate attendance was the real swing: three GOP absences (Cruz, Hawley, Tillis) and two Democratic absences (Booker, Gallego) — with all voting Republicans in favor, Democrats/Independents opposed. [3]U.S. Senate — U.S. Senate Roll Call Vote 119-1-556 (H.J.Res.105)

Leadership influence and procedure

• Senate: Majority Leader John Thune controlled floor timing and used CRA’s fast‑track to secure a simple‑majority vote (no filibuster). [10]Senate GOP Leader site — Sen. John Thune — First remarks as Senate Majority Lea…[5]CRS / Congress.gov — CRS — The Congressional Review Act (CRA): Frequently Asked…
• House: GOP leadership advanced H.J.Res. 105 under a closed rule (H.Res. 672), limiting amendments and ensuring a clean up‑or‑down vote. [2]Congress.gov — Congress.gov — H.J.Res.105 All Actions
• Executive: The White House support removed veto risk; the joint resolution was signed December 11, 2025. [4]White House — White House — Bills H.J.Res. 104, 105, 106, 130, 131 Signed into…
• Jurisdictional context: GAO’s June 25 opinion established CRA eligibility; Senate printed it June 26 (S3556–S3558), reinforcing procedural footing. [6]U.S. GAO — GAO Decision B-337175 — Applicability of CRA to BLM North Dakota RMP…

Interest groups and external pressure

• State government push: North Dakota’s Governor and Attorney General opposed the RMP and highlighted energy and revenue impacts, bolstering congressional repeal efforts. [9]State of North Dakota — ND Governor — Statement opposing BLM ND RMP (Jan 14, 20…[15]State of North Dakota — ND Attorney General — Lawsuit against BLM RMP amendment…
• Conservation community pushback: National Wildlife Federation warned CRA use on RMPs could destabilize public‑lands stewardship and bar “substantially similar” plans. [16]National Wildlife Federation — National Wildlife Federation — Statement opposin…

Assessment — whip count and prospects

Bottom line from a procedural and power perspective.

• Ex‑ante outlook: High likelihood of passage. GOP controlled both chambers; CRA provided a guaranteed simple‑majority path in the Senate; House leadership locked down a closed rule. [10]Senate GOP Leader site — Sen. John Thune — First remarks as Senate Majority Lea…[5]CRS / Congress.gov — CRS — The Congressional Review Act (CRA): Frequently Asked…[2]Congress.gov — Congress.gov — H.J.Res.105 All Actions
• Observed votes matched expectations: House 215–211 under the rule; Senate 50–45 party‑line with five absences. [1]govinfo — Congressional Record page H3791 (House debate on H.J.Res.105)[3]U.S. Senate — U.S. Senate Roll Call Vote 119-1-556 (H.J.Res.105)
• Confidence at introduction-to-floor: High — principal risk was attendance, not persuasion; no Democratic crossovers materialized. [3]U.S. Senate — U.S. Senate Roll Call Vote 119-1-556 (H.J.Res.105)

Core sources (selected)

Authoritative legislative records, official leadership pages, GAO, and major organizations.

• House floor debate and passage details (text, rule, debate managers). [1]govinfo — Congressional Record page H3791 (House debate on H.J.Res.105)
• House procedural posture — closed rule H.Res. 672 and actions log. [2]Congress.gov — Congress.gov — H.J.Res.105 All Actions
• Senate roll call by name for Vote 556; party-line pattern and absences. [3]U.S. Senate — U.S. Senate Roll Call Vote 119-1-556 (H.J.Res.105)
• White House bill‑signing notice (Dec 11, 2025). [4]White House — White House — Bills H.J.Res. 104, 105, 106, 130, 131 Signed into…
• GAO decision (B‑337175) determining the ND RMP is a CRA “rule.” [6]U.S. GAO — GAO Decision B-337175 — Applicability of CRA to BLM North Dakota RMP…
• CRA fast‑track parameters (CRS FAQ). [5]CRS / Congress.gov — CRS — The Congressional Review Act (CRA): Frequently Asked…
• BLM ROD/RMP availability notice (Jan 2025). [8]Bureau of Land Management — BLM — Record of Decision and Approved RMP for North…
• House Natural Resources chair page (Westerman); Senate ENR majority/minority leadership. [13]House Committee on Natural Resources — House Natural Resources Committee — Chai…[14]Congress.gov — Senate Energy & Natural Resources — Committee membership (119th)
• Senate majority leadership confirmation (Thune). [10]Senate GOP Leader site — Sen. John Thune — First remarks as Senate Majority Lea…