119-SJRES-71 Journalist Public Summary

Public Summary: 119-SJRES-71

Headline Summary: End the President’s “national energy emergency” and the extra emergency powers that came with it. [1]Congress.gov (Library of Congress) — Text - S.J.Res.71 — 119th Congress: termin…

What It Does: This joint resolution would terminate the energy emergency President Trump declared on January 20, 2025 in Executive Order 14156. Ending the emergency would shut off the special, accelerated authorities agencies have been using to fast‑track energy projects under emergency procedures. [1]Congress.gov (Library of Congress) — Text - S.J.Res.71 — 119th Congress: termin…[2]White House — Executive Order 14156 — Declaring a National Energy Emergency (Ja…[4]Advisory Council on Historic Preservation — ACHP: Section 106 Emergency Provisi…

Why It Matters: While in effect, the emergency has directed federal agencies to use expedited processes for siting and permitting energy infrastructure—for example, the Army Corps invoked emergency processing for certain energy activities—and the Administration has linked the emergency to actions aimed at grid reliability. Ending it would return agencies to standard permitting and review. [5]U.S. Army Corps of Engineers — USACE Great Lakes & Ohio River Division: Special…[6]White House — Executive action: Strengthening the Reliability and Security of t…

• Democratic sponsors: Sens. Tim Kaine (VA) and Martin Heinrich (NM) say the emergency is a “sham” that bypasses environmental safeguards to favor fossil‑fuel projects; they introduced this measure to end it. [7]Office of Sen. Tim Kaine — Kaine & Heinrich unveil legislation to terminate Pre…
• Other Democratic senators have signed on as cosponsors, including Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (RI) and Cory Booker (NJ). [3]Congress.gov (Library of Congress) — S.J.Res.71 — Overview, status, and cospons…
• Democratic-led states: A coalition of 15 Democratic state attorneys general sued to block the emergency order, arguing it unlawfully skirts bedrock environmental laws—aligned with the resolution’s aim. [8]Reuters — 15 Democratic state attorneys general sue to block Trump’s energy eme…[9]Associated Press — 15 states sue over Trump’s move to fast‑track oil and gas pr…

Who’s For It:

• The Trump Administration defends the emergency as needed to boost energy supply and protect grid reliability, pointing to actions under the order. [2]White House — Executive Order 14156 — Declaring a National Energy Emergency (Ja…[6]White House — Executive action: Strengthening the Reliability and Security of t…
• Senate Republicans: A similar Democratic attempt to terminate the energy emergency earlier in 2025 failed on a 52–47 vote, signaling GOP opposition. [10]U.S. Senate — Senate Roll Call Vote 95 (Feb. 26, 2025) — S.J.Res.10 failed, 47–…
• Some business groups have praised the administration’s broader energy agenda (permitting, exports), suggesting skepticism of efforts to unwind it. [11]U.S. Chamber of Commerce — U.S. Chamber: Statement applauding Trump Administrat…

Who’s Against It:

What’s Next: As of October 9, 2025, S.J.Res. 71 has been read twice and referred to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee; under the National Emergencies Act, such termination resolutions are privileged for floor consideration, so another vote is possible, but none has been scheduled yet. [3]Congress.gov (Library of Congress) — S.J.Res.71 — Overview, status, and cospons…[12]Office of Sen. Tim Kaine — Kaine & Heinrich refile legislation to dismantle Tru…