Key Points

Congress passed a resolution to cancel a new rule from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. The original rule was meant to improve how the government protects shipwrecks and other historical sites on the ocean floor during energy projects.
This decision affects companies that build offshore wind farms or drill for oil and gas. These companies will no longer have to follow the specific new requirements for finding and preserving artifacts during their construction projects.
This move was made using a special power that allows Congress to overrule agency decisions. Because this rule was blocked this way, the agency is now banned from creating any similar rule in the future unless Congress passes a new law allowing it.
People who support this move say the new rules were too complicated and would have made energy projects more expensive and slower to finish. They believe the older, existing protections are already enough to keep history safe.
Those who wanted the rule kept say it was necessary to protect important pieces of history, like ancient tribal sites or historic ships, from being accidentally destroyed by heavy machinery on the sea floor.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.

Milestones

9 milestones22 actions

Mar 14, 2025

Became Public Law No: 119-3.

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

Mar 14, 2025

Signed by President.

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

Mar 10, 2025House

Presented to President.

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

Mar 6, 2025House

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Mar 6, 2025House

On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 221 - 202, 1 Present (Roll no. 61). (text: CR H1014-1015)

Vote Results

3 votes

HousePassedPassageMar 6, 2025

On Passage

221

202

Democrat

9 – 201 · 4

Republican

212 – 1 · 5

View full roll call

SenatePassedProceduralFeb 25, 2025

On the Motion to Proceed

54

42

Democrat

3 – 40 · 2

Republican

51 – 0 · 2

Independent

0 – 2

View full roll call

SenatePassedFeb 25, 2025

On the Joint Resolution

54

44

Democrat

3 – 42

Republican

51 – 0 · 2

Independent

0 – 2

View full roll call

Related Bills

2 bills

H.Res. 177Procedurally related

Providing for consideration of the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 42) providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Energy relating to "Energy Conservation Program for Appliance Standards: Certification Requirements, Labeling Requirements, and Enforcement Provisions for Certain Consumer Products and Commercial Equipment"; providing for consideration of the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 61) providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Rubber Tire Manufacturing"; and providing for consideration of the joint resolution (S.J. Res. 11) providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management relating to "Protection of Marine Archaeological Resources".

Mar 4 — Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

H.J.Res. 62Identical bill

Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management relating to "Protection of Marine Archaeological Resources".

Feb 26 — Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

No news coverage recorded for this bill yet.

A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management relating to "Protection of Marine Archaeological Resources".

Legislative Progress

Key Points

Impact Analysis

Milestones

Vote Results

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