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".
Summary
H.J.Res. 61 is a congressional disapproval resolution under the Congressional Review Act that nullifies an Environmental Protection Agency rule titled “National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Rubber Tire Manufacturing.” The resolution states that the EPA rule, published at 89 Fed. Reg. 94886 on November 29, 2024, shall have no force or effect. In practical terms, the measure blocks the federal air toxics standards the EPA adopted for rubber tire manufacturing facilities.
Because this is a disapproval resolution rather than a new regulatory program, its main effect is to prevent the EPA rule from taking effect and to bar implementation of that specific regulation. The bill does not itself create replacement emissions standards; instead, it leaves the regulated industry subject to whatever other federal, state, or local requirements remain in place. It also reflects Congress’s use of the Congressional Review Act to overturn a recently finalized agency rule.
The overall sentiment in the recorded votes suggests the measure was supported by a narrow but successful majority in both chambers, with more opposition than support from the minority party. The House passed the resolution 216-202, and the Senate later advanced and approved it by 51-43 and 55-45 votes, indicating a partisan split and a contentious debate over EPA regulation.
The main point of contention is the balance between environmental and public-health regulation on one side and regulatory burden on manufacturers on the other. Supporters likely viewed the EPA rule as overly restrictive or economically burdensome for tire manufacturers, while opponents likely saw the rule as a necessary safeguard against hazardous air pollutants and industrial emissions. The absence of committee transcripts limits more detailed insight, but the vote margins show the issue was politically divisive.
H.J.Res. 61 was ultimately enacted as Public Law No. 119-14 on May 23, 2025, making the disapproval of the EPA tire-manufacturing emissions rule the law of the land.
Impact
This resolution eliminates the legal effect of the EPA’s National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants rule for rubber tire manufacturing, preventing the federal emissions standard from taking effect. It affects EPA regulatory authority, rubber tire manufacturers, and any facilities that would have been subject to the hazardous air pollutant requirements, while leaving other applicable environmental laws and standards unchanged.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been supported by a slim majority and opposed by a substantial minority, with votes indicating a clear partisan divide. The successful passage in both chambers suggests enough support to overturn the EPA rule, but the close margins show the measure was controversial and not broadly bipartisan.
Contention
The central controversy is whether the EPA’s tire-manufacturing air toxics rule was a necessary public-health protection or an excessive regulatory burden on industry. Supporters of disapproval likely emphasized costs, compliance burdens, and limits on EPA rulemaking, while opponents likely focused on hazardous air pollutant controls and environmental health protections. The recorded votes indicate that the disagreement was strong enough to split members largely along partisan lines.