Analyses / Whip Count Analysis / 119 · HJRES 104 Whip Count Analysis

119-HJRES-104 DC Insider Whip Count Analysis

119 · HJRES 104 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 "Miles City 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) relating to the Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment for the Miles City...

Party-line CRA rollback with unified GOP leadership, ironclad Senate fast-track, and a White House signing posture made passage highly likely; final margins—House 211–208 and Senate 52–47—tracked expectations, with interest-group pressure running along predictable coal vs. conservation lines. [1]Congress.gov — House Roll Call Vote 224 — H.J.Res.104 (119th Congress)[2]U.S. Senate — Senate Roll Call Vote 549 — H.J.Res.104 final passage (Oct. 8, 20…[3]The White House — White House: Congressional Bills H.J.Res. 104, 105, 106, 130…

Analyzed as
DC Insider
Published
13 Dec 2025
Updated
13 Dec 2025
Tags
whip count · CRA · public lands
Unvetted
01 · Section

Breakdown: vote alignment and caucus posture

The joint resolution moved on near-perfect party lines and within CRA fast‑track parameters.

House final passage
211yea (208 nay) — Roll 224
Senate final passage
52yea (47 nay) — Vote 549
Republican crossovers
1House no votes; 0 in Senate (1 GOP not voting)
Democratic crossovers
0House & Senate
  • House: 211–208, with Republicans 211–1 and Democrats 0–207; 12 not voting. [1]Congress.gov — House Roll Call Vote 224 — H.J.Res.104 (119th Congress)
  • Senate: 52–47; all voting Republicans in favor, all Democrats/Independents opposed; Sen. Cruz (R-TX) not voting. [2]U.S. Senate — Senate Roll Call Vote 549 — H.J.Res.104 final passage (Oct. 8, 20…
  • The measure targeted BLM’s November 20, 2024 Miles City Field Office ROD/RMP Amendment (no new coal leasing; ~1.7M+ acres unavailable), which GAO confirmed is a CRA‑covered “rule.” [4]Federal Register (via FWS.gov) — Federal Register notice: Miles City Field Offi…[5]U.S. GAO — GAO Decision B-337163 — CRA applicability to Miles City RMPA (June 2…[6]Congress.gov — Congress.gov — H.J.Res.104 summary/background
  • After enrollment, the President signed H.J.Res.104 into law on December 11, 2025 (Pub. L. 119-48). [3]The White House — White House: Congressional Bills H.J.Res. 104, 105, 106, 130…
02 · Section

Key legislators and pivotal pressures

Pivots were concentrated in marginal House GOP districts and among habitual Senate moderates; in practice, leadership held the line.

  • Sponsors/champions: Rep. Troy Downing (R‑MT‑02) led in the House; Sen. Steve Daines (R‑MT) led in the Senate with the full Montana delegation aligned. [7]Web search · turn 12 #4[8]Office of Sen. Steve Daines — Daines/Sheehy/Downing/Zinke introduce CRA disappr…
  • House margin management: The rule (H.Res. 672) provided closed consideration; floor was managed by Natural Resources Chair Bruce Westerman, signaling leadership whip engagement. [9]govinfo (Congressional Record) — Congressional Record (House) — Debate/rule cit…
  • House swing zone: Final tally shows just one Republican ‘no’ against a unified Democratic ‘no’ bloc—i.e., leadership limited defections to one despite vulnerable Biden‑district Republicans. [1]Congress.gov — House Roll Call Vote 224 — H.J.Res.104 (119th Congress)
  • Senate moderates: Collins and Murkowski voted yes; no GOP defections materialized, while all Democrats/Independents voted no—consistent with resource‑state politics meeting party discipline. [2]U.S. Senate — Senate Roll Call Vote 549 — H.J.Res.104 final passage (Oct. 8, 20…
  • Issue‑aligned lobbying: Pro‑repeal support cited by sponsors included Gov. Gianforte, NorthWestern Energy, NTEC, and local county leaders; opposition included Earthjustice and allied conservation groups. [10]Office of Sen. Steve Daines — Daines floor push with stakeholder list (Oct. 7,…[11]Office of Sen. Steve Daines — Stakeholder quotes backing CRA (NorthWestern Ener…[12]Web search · turn 16 #2[13]Earthjustice — Earthjustice opposes CRA rollback; Senate passage note
03 · Section

Leadership influence and procedural dynamics

Unified GOP control, CRA fast‑track, and committee alignment shaped the outcome.

  • Chamber control/leadership: Republicans hold both chambers in the 119th Congress; Sen. John Thune is Majority Leader and Sen. Chuck Schumer is Minority Leader; Speaker Mike Johnson leads the House; Hakeem Jeffries leads House Democrats. [14]Wikipedia — 119th United States Congress — party control and leadership[15]U.S. Senate — U.S. Senate — Complete list of Majority/Minority Leaders (incl. 1…[16]Office of Sen. John Thune — Thune delivers first remarks as Senate Majority Lea…[17]Wikipedia — Speaker Mike Johnson — overview (incl. 119th)
  • Committee leverage: Senate ENR chaired by Sen. Mike Lee with Sen. Martin Heinrich as Ranking; House Natural Resources chaired by Rep. Bruce Westerman—both aligned with moving the CRA. [18]Wikipedia — Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee — 119th membership (Cha…[19]U.S. Senate ENR (Democratic news) — ENR subcommittee assignments; Heinrich as R…[20]House Committee on Natural Resources — House Natural Resources — Chairman Bruce…
  • Senate procedure: CRA resolutions are not subject to filibuster; motion to proceed is nondebatable; debate capped at 10 hours; simple‑majority passage. The Senate agreed to proceed 50–47 before final passage 52–47. [21]CRS (Congress.gov) — CRS In Focus — Congressional Review Act: Brief Overview (p…[2]U.S. Senate — Senate Roll Call Vote 549 — H.J.Res.104 final passage (Oct. 8, 20…
  • House procedure: No CRA fast‑track, but leadership used a closed rule (H.Res. 672) to control floor time and amendments. [21]CRS (Congress.gov) — CRS In Focus — Congressional Review Act: Brief Overview (p…[9]govinfo (Congressional Record) — Congressional Record (House) — Debate/rule cit…
  • Executive posture: The White House supported and ultimately signed H.J.Res.104 alongside related BLM CRA disapprovals, eliminating veto risk. [3]The White House — White House: Congressional Bills H.J.Res. 104, 105, 106, 130…
04 · Section

Assessment: likelihood of passage

Bottom line: once the House posted 211 and the Senate teed up CRA consideration, the path to enactment was clear.

  • Pre‑Senate outlook: GOP majority + CRA fast‑track + no need for 60 votes = high likelihood barring unexpected GOP defections; none appeared on final. [21]CRS (Congress.gov) — CRS In Focus — Congressional Review Act: Brief Overview (p…[2]U.S. Senate — Senate Roll Call Vote 549 — H.J.Res.104 final passage (Oct. 8, 20…
  • House risk management: Closed rule and conference discipline kept defections to one GOP ‘no,’ matching expectations for resource/energy votes. [9]govinfo (Congressional Record) — Congressional Record (House) — Debate/rule cit…[1]Congress.gov — House Roll Call Vote 224 — H.J.Res.104 (119th Congress)
  • Issue environment: Pro‑coal constituencies in Montana and allied industry/labor locally pressed for repeal; national conservation groups mobilized opposition—net effect reinforced party alignment, not cross‑party movement. [10]Office of Sen. Steve Daines — Daines floor push with stakeholder list (Oct. 7,…[22]Web search · turn 16 #5[13]Earthjustice — Earthjustice opposes CRA rollback; Senate passage note
  • Signature certainty: With the President’s stated support and subsequent signing on December 11, 2025, enactment risk was negligible post‑Senate. [3]The White House — White House: Congressional Bills H.J.Res. 104, 105, 106, 130…
05 · Section

Institutional context and aftermath

What the CRA disapproval does—and doesn’t—do.

  • Effect of CRA: The disapproved rule has no force or effect; BLM is barred from issuing a new rule that is “substantially the same” absent further authorization—scope unsettled in courts. [23]CRS (Congress.gov) — CRS FAQ — Congressional Review Act (scope/‘substantially t…[24]Holland & Hart LLP — Holland & Hart explainer — CRA effects/‘substantially the…
  • Targeted rule details: The Miles City RMPA (signed Nov. 20, 2024; FR notice Nov. 27, 2024) restricted new federal coal leasing in the planning area; GAO confirmed CRA coverage; the GAO opinion was printed in the Congressional Record on June 26, 2025 (S3552–S3554). [4]Federal Register (via FWS.gov) — Federal Register notice: Miles City Field Offi…[5]U.S. GAO — GAO Decision B-337163 — CRA applicability to Miles City RMPA (June 2…[25]govinfo (Congressional Record) — Congressional Record printing of GAO opinion (…
  • Record/legislative trail: House floor debate and rule citations at CR H3782–H3819; Senate votes 548 (motion to proceed) and 549 (final). [9]govinfo (Congressional Record) — Congressional Record (House) — Debate/rule cit…[2]U.S. Senate — Senate Roll Call Vote 549 — H.J.Res.104 final passage (Oct. 8, 20…
  • White House action: Signed alongside four related BLM CRA disapprovals (North Dakota FO, Central Yukon, Buffalo FO, and ANWR Coastal Plain). [3]The White House — White House: Congressional Bills H.J.Res. 104, 105, 106, 130…
Sources cited
  1. [1] House Roll Call Vote 224 — H.J.Res.104 (119th Congress) Congress.gov
  2. [2] Senate Roll Call Vote 549 — H.J.Res.104 final passage (Oct. 8, 2025) U.S. Senate
  3. [3] White House: Congressional Bills H.J.Res. 104, 105, 106, 130 and 131 Signed into Law (Dec. 11, 2025) The White House
  4. [4] Federal Register notice: Miles City Field Office ROD/RMPA (Nov. 27, 2024) Federal Register (via FWS.gov)
  5. [5] GAO Decision B-337163 — CRA applicability to Miles City RMPA (June 25, 2025) U.S. GAO
  6. [6] Congress.gov — H.J.Res.104 summary/background Congress.gov
  7. [7] Web search · turn 12 #4
  8. [8] Daines/Sheehy/Downing/Zinke introduce CRA disapproval (July 10, 2025) Office of Sen. Steve Daines
  9. [9] Congressional Record (House) — Debate/rule citations for H.J.Res.104 (Sept. 3, 2025) govinfo (Congressional Record)
  10. [10] Daines floor push with stakeholder list (Oct. 7, 2025) Office of Sen. Steve Daines
  11. [11] Stakeholder quotes backing CRA (NorthWestern Energy, NTEC, counties) Office of Sen. Steve Daines
  12. [12] Web search · turn 16 #2
  13. [13] Earthjustice opposes CRA rollback; Senate passage note Earthjustice
  14. [14] 119th United States Congress — party control and leadership Wikipedia
  15. [15] U.S. Senate — Complete list of Majority/Minority Leaders (incl. 119th) U.S. Senate
  16. [16] Thune delivers first remarks as Senate Majority Leader (Jan. 3, 2025) Office of Sen. John Thune
  17. [17] Speaker Mike Johnson — overview (incl. 119th) Wikipedia
  18. [18] Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee — 119th membership (Chair Mike Lee) Wikipedia
  19. [19] ENR subcommittee assignments; Heinrich as Ranking (119th) U.S. Senate ENR (Democratic news)
  20. [20] House Natural Resources — Chairman Bruce Westerman House Committee on Natural Resources
  21. [21] CRS In Focus — Congressional Review Act: Brief Overview (procedures) CRS (Congress.gov)
  22. [22] Web search · turn 16 #5
  23. [23] CRS FAQ — Congressional Review Act (scope/‘substantially the same’) CRS (Congress.gov)
  24. [24] Holland & Hart explainer — CRA effects/‘substantially the same’ Holland & Hart LLP
  25. [25] Congressional Record printing of GAO opinion (S3552–S3554) govinfo (Congressional Record)

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