US Federal House Bill HJR34

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/4/25
• Refer: 2/4/25

Caption

Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "Trichloroethylene (TCE); Regulation Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)".

Summary

H.J. Res. 34 is a congressional disapproval resolution under the Congressional Review Act that would nullify the Environmental Protection Agency’s final rule on trichloroethylene (TCE) under the Toxic Substances Control Act. If enacted, the resolution would prevent the EPA rule published at 89 Fed. Reg. 102568 (Dec. 17, 2024) from taking effect and would bar it from having force or effect. The resolution does not itself create a new regulatory program or amend TSCA directly; instead, it uses Congress’s CRA authority to overturn a specific federal environmental and chemical-safety rule. Its practical effect would be to preserve the status quo for TCE regulation rather than allow the EPA’s new restrictions or compliance requirements to proceed.

Impact

If adopted, the resolution would invalidate the EPA’s TCE rule nationwide and block implementation of any associated federal requirements for manufacturers, processors, distributors, or users of trichloroethylene. It would also signal congressional disapproval of the agency’s TSCA-based approach to regulating a hazardous industrial solvent, potentially affecting future EPA rulemaking on chemical risk management.

Sentiment

Available context shows the bill was introduced and referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, with no recorded committee transcript or vote history in the provided materials. Based on the text, the resolution appears to be supported by sponsors seeking to overturn the EPA rule, while the absence of recorded debate or votes means there is no documented broader legislative sentiment in the supplied record.

Contention

The central point of contention is whether the EPA should be allowed to enforce its final TCE rule under TSCA. Supporters of the resolution likely object to the substance, scope, or economic impact of the EPA regulation, while opponents would favor retaining the rule as a public-health and environmental protection measure addressing a toxic chemical. Because no committee discussion or vote data are provided, the specific arguments of each side are not documented in the supplied materials.