119-HR-573 DC Insider Whip Count Analysis

Breakdown: expected support/opposition

• House (completed): Passed by voice under suspension on Dec. 9, indicating at least two‑thirds support among those present and no organized floor opposition. [1]Library of Congress — All Actions for H.R. 573 (119th) — Congress.gov[6]CRS / Congress.gov — CRS: Suspension of the Rules in the House — Principal Feat…
• Senate party math: Republicans hold a 53–47 majority this Congress; leadership has pledged to preserve the 60‑vote norm but routinely clears non‑controversials by unanimous consent. [2]Associated Press — AP: New Majority Leader Thune vows to preserve filibuster; G…[7]Office of Sen. John Thune — Thune: First remarks as Senate Majority Leader[8]CRS / Congress.gov — CRS: How Unanimous Consent Agreements Regulate Senate Floo…
• Senate Republicans: Expect near‑unanimous support; the bill aligns with the conference’s permitting/transparency posture and falls within EPW Chair Capito’s portfolio. [9]Senate EPW Committee — EPW Majority News: Capito on permitting reform (Feb. 19,…
• Senate Democrats/Independents: Moderates and pro‑permitting members are probable yeses (notably Sen. Mark Kelly, a co‑sponsor of the Senate companion). Progressive climate hawks are more skeptical, given recent opposition to perceived NEPA dilution. Net Democratic support likely sufficient to clear UC; if a hold materializes, expect >60 votes available on a roll‑call. [5]Office of Sen. Mark Kelly — Sen. Mark Kelly press release: Kelly–Curtis introdu…[10]Web search · turn 14 #3
• Outside pressure: Industry and construction groups (e.g., API, NAM, AGC, Chamber, NECA) are on record backing the concept; a coalition of environmental‑justice and green groups opposed the earlier House version alongside broader NEPA fights. That cross‑pressure modestly raises hold risk but not defeat risk. [11]Office of Rep. Rudy Yakym — Rep. Yakym press release: supporters (NECA, AGC, AP…[12]Climate Justice Alliance — Climate Justice Alliance letter opposing H.R. 6129/H…

Key legislators to watch

• Shelley Moore Capito (R‑WV), EPW Chair: Controls committee agenda; has repeatedly framed permitting/NEPA process transparency as a bipartisan target, making her the prime mover for a quick markup or discharge. [9]Senate EPW Committee — EPW Majority News: Capito on permitting reform (Feb. 19,…
• Sheldon Whitehouse (D‑RI), EPW Ranking Member: Longtime NEPA/climate hawk; unlikely to back rollbacks, but may tolerate a narrow reporting bill. If he signals concern that litigation tracking is a pretext, a Democratic hold could surface. [13]Office of Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse — Sen. Whitehouse press release: Critique of…
• John R. Curtis (R‑UT), Senate sponsor (S.1191) and EPW subcommittee chair; Mark Kelly (D‑AZ), Democratic co‑sponsor: Bipartisan bill owners who can help clear UC and reassure skeptics the measure is informational, not substantive. [4]Library of Congress — S.1191 text — Studying NEPA’s Impact on Projects Act (Sen…[5]Office of Sen. Mark Kelly — Sen. Mark Kelly press release: Kelly–Curtis introdu…
• Lisa Murkowski (R‑AK) and Susan Collins (R‑ME): Typical UC gatekeepers on process/precedent; no visible objections expected on a data‑only bill. (Inferred from standard UC practice; no bill‑specific statements found.) [8]CRS / Congress.gov — CRS: How Unanimous Consent Agreements Regulate Senate Floo…
• House floor manager: Rep. Jeff Crank (R‑CO) handled the successful suspension motion—useful signal to Senate that no organized House bloc is mobilizing against it. [1]Library of Congress — All Actions for H.R. 573 (119th) — Congress.gov

Leadership stance and procedural dynamics

• Senate leadership: Majority Leader John Thune controls floor time; he’s committed to the 60‑vote Senate but relies on UC/hotline to clear low‑controversy items—this fits that bucket. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s caucus has room to allow UC on a narrow transparency bill. [7]Office of Sen. John Thune — Thune: First remarks as Senate Majority Leader[14]U.S. Senate — U.S. Senate: Majority and Minority Leaders list[8]CRS / Congress.gov — CRS: How Unanimous Consent Agreements Regulate Senate Floo…
• Committee of referral: Senate EPW (jurisdiction over CEQ/NEPA) with Capito as Chair and Whitehouse as Ranking. Expect either a quick EPW voice markup or direct UC on the House‑passed text. [3]Senate EPW Committee (Majority News) — EPW: Capito, Whitehouse announce 119th C…[15]Senate EPW Committee — EPW Subcommittee (Regulatory Oversight) page — CEQ/NEPA…
• Executive branch context: CEQ already maintains historic NEPA litigation tallies (2001–2013) and is implementing FRA‑2023 NEPA amendments—making the reporting mandate operationally straightforward for the administration. [16]CEQ (Executive Office of the President) — CEQ: NEPA Litigation Surveys (2001–20…[17]CEQ (Executive Office of the President) — CEQ: Fiscal Responsibility Act of 202…

Interest groups and signals

• Support: NECA, AGC, API, U.S. Chamber, NAM publicly backed the bill concept in House proceedings—amplifying GOP support and giving moderates cover. [11]Office of Rep. Rudy Yakym — Rep. Yakym press release: supporters (NECA, AGC, AP…
• Opposition: Environmental‑justice and green coalitions objected to H.R. 6129/H.R. 573 during prior hearings, warning it tees up broader NEPA constraints; they may press Senate progressives to place a hold. [12]Climate Justice Alliance — Climate Justice Alliance letter opposing H.R. 6129/H…

Institutional context and hurdles

• House signal: Passage under suspension (two‑thirds threshold, no amendments) is a classic indicator of bipartisan comfort; it reduces Senate political risk. [6]CRS / Congress.gov — CRS: Suspension of the Rules in the House — Principal Feat…
• Senate pathway: The cleanest route is EPW clearance (or discharge) followed by unanimous consent hotlining. If any senator objects, leaders can file cloture and pass on a bipartisan vote given GOP majority and moderate Democratic support. [8]CRS / Congress.gov — CRS: How Unanimous Consent Agreements Regulate Senate Floo…
• Scope/cost: The bill is a reporting mandate to CEQ; Congress.gov shows no CBO score posted yet, which typically eases UC clearance at year‑end. [18]Library of Congress — All Info for H.R. 573 — Congress.gov (CBO estimates = 0)
• Policy alignment: The bill’s required disaggregation around the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 dovetails with ongoing NEPA implementation and page/timeline limits adopted by CEQ. [17]CEQ (Executive Office of the President) — CEQ: Fiscal Responsibility Act of 202…

Assessment

• Bottom line: High likelihood of Senate passage in December/January. Bipartisan Senate companion (Curtis–Kelly), EPW majority support, and a non‑substantive reporting scope make this a strong UC candidate. [4]Library of Congress — S.1191 text — Studying NEPA’s Impact on Projects Act (Sen…[5]Office of Sen. Mark Kelly — Sen. Mark Kelly press release: Kelly–Curtis introdu…
• Timing: If hotlined without objection, clearance can occur in minutes during wrap‑up; a progressive hold would slip timing to a brief EPW markup and a 60‑vote floor passage that should still succeed. [8]CRS / Congress.gov — CRS: How Unanimous Consent Agreements Regulate Senate Floo…
• Estimated whip: R yes 52–53; D/I yes 5–10; total 57–63 if a roll‑call is forced. Confidence: high. (Projection informed by House suspension passage and Senate companion sponsorship.) [1]Library of Congress — All Actions for H.R. 573 (119th) — Congress.gov[5]Office of Sen. Mark Kelly — Sen. Mark Kelly press release: Kelly–Curtis introdu…

Quick reference

House status

Passed by voice under suspension (Dec. 9, 2025). [1]Library of Congress — All Actions for H.R. 573 (119th) — Congress.gov

Senate referral

EPW (CEQ/NEPA jurisdiction). [15]Senate EPW Committee — EPW Subcommittee (Regulatory Oversight) page — CEQ/NEPA…

Senate majority

Republicans 53–47; Thune majority leader; Schumer minority leader. [2]Associated Press — AP: New Majority Leader Thune vows to preserve filibuster; G…[14]U.S. Senate — U.S. Senate: Majority and Minority Leaders list

Senate companion

S.1191 (Curtis–Kelly). [4]Library of Congress — S.1191 text — Studying NEPA’s Impact on Projects Act (Sen…[5]Office of Sen. Mark Kelly — Sen. Mark Kelly press release: Kelly–Curtis introdu…