Key Points

Energy Environment

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

Scores run from -100 (strongly harmful) to +100 (strongly beneficial) for each group, combining impact, certainty, scope, and duration ratings of 1-5. How impact scoring works

The Gwich'in people and other Alaska Native communities have long opposed drilling in the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge because it is a critical calving ground for the Porcupine caribou herd, which is central to their culture and food supply. By overturning the rule that protected 1.2 million acres from leasing, this law reopens the possibility of industrial activity in areas vital to Indigenous subsistence and cultural practices. Some Iñupiat communities near the coast have supported development for economic reasons, making this a deeply divided issue among tribal members.

4

2

5

-3

ImpactCertaintyScopeDurationSentiment

4

2

5

-3

ImpactCertaintyScopeDurationSentiment

State Impacts

StateScoreImpactCertaintyScopeDurationSentiment

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

7 milestones20 actions

Dec 11, 2025

Became Public Law No: 119-52.

The President signed it. This is now the law of the land.

Dec 11, 2025

Signed by President.

The President signed it. This is now the law of the land.

Dec 10, 2025House

Presented to President.

Both chambers passed identical text. The President has 10 days to sign it into law or veto it.

Dec 4, 2025Senate

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

Dec 4, 2025Senate

Passed Senate without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 49 - 45. Record Vote Number: 632.

The Senate voted to approve this bill. If the House already passed it, it goes to the President.

Vote Results

2 votes

SenatePassedDec 4, 2025

On the Joint Resolution

49

45

Democrat

0 – 42 · 3

Republican

49 – 1 · 3

Independent

0 – 2

View full roll call

HousePassedPassageNov 18, 2025

On Passage

217

209

Democrat

3 – 208 · 3

Republican

214 – 1 · 4

View full roll call

Related News

3 articles

POLITICO·Dec 5, 2025

Congress scraps Biden ANWR drilling limits

The Senate voted Thursday to undo Biden-era restrictions on oil and gas drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The Congressional Review Act resolution, H.J. Res. 131, passed in the House last month and will now go to President Donald Trump's desk for signature.

Center Left

POLITICO·Oct 15, 2025

House Republican moves to erase Biden's Alaska oil lease plan

Rep. Nick Begich (R-Alaska) introduced H.J. Res. 131 to strike down a Bureau of Land Management plan outlining energy development in the state. Republicans say the Biden plan defied the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which required lease sales in areas rich with hydrocarbons.

Center Left

The Hill·Dec 4, 2025

Republicans vote to cancel Biden drilling restrictions in Alaska's wildlife refuge

The Senate advanced a resolution of congressional disapproval undoing the Bureau of Land Management's restrictions on oil and gas leasing in the refuge issued late last year. The measure specifically nullifies a rule issued by BLM in December 2024 related to the Coastal Plain region.

Center

Related Bills

2 bills

H.Res. 879Related bill

Providing for consideration of the joint resolution (S.J. Res. 80) 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 National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska Integrated Activity Plan Record of Decision; providing for consideration of the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 130) 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 Buffalo Field Office Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment; providing for consideration of the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 131) 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 Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program Record of Decision; providing for consideration of the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 58) denouncing the horrors of socialism; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1949) to repeal restrictions on the export and import of natural gas; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3109) to require the Secretary of Energy to direct the National Petroleum Council to issue a report with respect to petrochemical refineries in the United States, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5107) to repeal the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022 enacted by the District of Columbia Council; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5214) to require mandatory pretrial and post conviction detention for crimes of violence and dangerous crimes and require mandatory cash bail for certain offenses that pose a threat to public safety or order in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes; and for other purposes.

Nov 18 — Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

S.J.Res. 91Identical bill

A joint resolution 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 "Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program Record of Decision".

Dec 4 — Indefinitely postponed by Senate by Unanimous Consent.

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 "Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program Record of Decision".

Legislative Progress