Bills of Congress by U.S. Congress

S.jres60 - Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to Emissions Budget and Allowance Allocations for Indiana Under the Revised Cross-State Air Pollution Rule Update. (119th Congress)

Summary

Senate Joint Resolution 60 (S.J. Res. 60) proposes congressional disapproval of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) rule concerning emissions budget and allowance allocations for Indiana under the Revised Cross-State Air Pollution Rule Update. The resolution aims to nullify the EPA rule, preventing it from taking effect. The rule in question is published in the Federal Register (90 Fed. Reg. 21423) from May 20, 2025.

Expected Effects

If the resolution passes both the Senate and the House and is enacted, the EPA's rule regarding Indiana's emissions budget and allowance allocations would be invalidated. This would likely lead to a reassessment of air pollution control measures in Indiana. The state may then need to develop alternative strategies to comply with federal air quality standards.

Potential Benefits

  • Could potentially reduce compliance costs for Indiana businesses and industries, as they would not be subject to the EPA's specific emissions budget and allowance allocations.
  • May allow Indiana to develop its own, potentially more flexible or cost-effective, strategies for addressing air pollution.
  • Could be seen as a check on federal regulatory power, reinforcing the role of Congress in overseeing agency actions.
  • Might encourage a more collaborative approach between the EPA and the state of Indiana in developing air quality regulations.
  • Could lead to a reconsideration of the EPA's methodology for setting emissions budgets and allowance allocations.

Potential Disadvantages

  • Could lead to increased air pollution in Indiana, potentially impacting public health and the environment.
  • May hinder efforts to address interstate air pollution transport, as the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule is designed to mitigate this issue.
  • Could create uncertainty for businesses and industries in Indiana, as they may face changing regulatory requirements.
  • May weaken the EPA's ability to enforce federal air quality standards, potentially setting a precedent for other states to challenge EPA regulations.
  • Could negatively impact Indiana's relationship with neighboring states that are affected by air pollution originating from Indiana.

Constitutional Alignment

The resolution invokes Congress's power to disapprove agency rules under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, which is often referred to as the Congressional Review Act (CRA). This act is an exercise of Congress's legislative authority under Article I, Section 1 of the Constitution, which vests all legislative powers in the Congress. The CRA allows Congress to review and potentially overturn regulations issued by federal agencies, providing a check on the executive branch's regulatory power. The resolution itself does not appear to violate any specific provision of the Constitution, as it is a procedural mechanism for Congress to express its disapproval of an agency rule.

Impact Assessment: Things You Care About

This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).