Summary
S.J.Res. 91 proposes to overturn a December 2024 rule issued by the Bureau of Land Management regarding oil and gas leasing in the Coastal Plain area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. The 2024 rule replaced an earlier 2020 decision and reduced the amount of land available for oil and gas development from approximately 1.6 million acres to 1.2 million acres, with the goal of protecting and conserving certain resources and uses in those areas. If enacted, this resolution would restore the previous policy that made more acreage available for leasing.
It is important to note that this is a joint resolution under the Congressional Review Act, which is a non-binding resolution that does not require presidential signature and does not have the force of law on its own. Additionally, this bill has already been indefinitely postponed by the Senate as of December 4, 2025, meaning it is unlikely to advance further in the legislative process.
AI-generated summary
Lifecycle of the Bill
Indefinitely postponed by Senate by Unanimous Consent.
Dec 4, 2025
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 49 - 47. Record Vote Number: 630.
Dec 3, 2025
Measure laid before Senate by motion. (consideration: CR S8473)
Dec 3, 2025
Dec 3, 2025, 2:53 PM ET
SenateAgreed To
On the Motion to Proceed
On the Motion to Proceed
49 Yes
47 No
VoteProceduralSenate
The Senate voted 49-47 on December 3, 2025, to agree to a motion to proceed on S.J.Res. 91, a joint resolution of congressional disapproval under the Congressional Review Act targeting a Bureau of Land Management rule implementing the Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program. This procedural motion allowed the Senate to begin floor debate and consideration of the resolution. The motion to proceed is a procedural step required before the Senate can debate and vote on the underlying resolution itself. Agreeing to proceed does not mean the Senate has voted to disapprove the rule; it simply enables the chamber to take up the measure for full consideration. Had the motion failed, the resolution would have been blocked from reaching the Senate floor. The vote was largely along party lines, with all 49 Republicans voting yes and 44 of 47 Democrats voting no. One Republican voted no. With the motion agreed to, the Senate proceeded to debate S.J.Res. 91 on its merits, with a final vote on disapproval to follow.
Indefinitely postponed by Senate by Unanimous Consent.
Dec 4, 2025
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 49 - 47. Record Vote Number: 630.
Dec 3, 2025
Measure laid before Senate by motion. (consideration: CR S8473)
Dec 3, 2025
Dec 3, 2025, 2:53 PM ET
SenateAgreed To
On the Motion to Proceed
On the Motion to Proceed
49 Yes
47 No
VoteProceduralSenate
The Senate voted 49-47 on December 3, 2025, to agree to a motion to proceed on S.J.Res. 91, a joint resolution of congressional disapproval under the Congressional Review Act targeting a Bureau of Land Management rule implementing the Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program. This procedural motion allowed the Senate to begin floor debate and consideration of the resolution. The motion to proceed is a procedural step required before the Senate can debate and vote on the underlying resolution itself. Agreeing to proceed does not mean the Senate has voted to disapprove the rule; it simply enables the chamber to take up the measure for full consideration. Had the motion failed, the resolution would have been blocked from reaching the Senate floor. The vote was largely along party lines, with all 49 Republicans voting yes and 44 of 47 Democrats voting no. One Republican voted no. With the motion agreed to, the Senate proceeded to debate S.J.Res. 91 on its merits, with a final vote on disapproval to follow.
Congress
119th Congress
Introduced
Oct 28, 2025
