US Federal House Bill HR426

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 5/20/25
• Introduced: 5/19/25

Caption

Providing for consideration of the joint resolution (S.J. Res. 13) providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency of the Department of the Treasury relating to the review of applications under the Bank Merger Act; providing for consideration of the joint resolution (S.J. Res. 31) providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "Review of Final Rule Reclassification of Major Sources as Area Sources Under Section 112 of the Clean Air Act"; and waiving a requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII with respect to consideration of certain resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules.

Summary

H. Res. 426 is a House rules resolution that sets up floor consideration of two separate joint resolutions of congressional disapproval under the Congressional Review Act. The first would disapprove an Office of the Comptroller of the Currency rule concerning how bank merger applications are reviewed under the Bank Merger Act. The second would disapprove an Environmental Protection Agency rule on reclassifying certain major sources as area sources under Section 112 of the Clean Air Act. The resolution also waives certain procedural points of order, deems the joint resolutions read, and provides for one hour of debate on each measure with one motion to commit. In addition, the resolution includes a procedural waiver related to same-day consideration of certain Rules Committee reports through May 23, 2025, tied to a reconciliation measure under H. Con. Res. 14. As a rules measure, H. Res. 426 does not itself change substantive banking or environmental law; instead, it controls how the House may debate and vote on the underlying disapproval resolutions. If the underlying joint resolutions were adopted and enacted, they could nullify the OCC and EPA rules and affect how bank mergers are reviewed and how certain Clean Air Act sources are classified and regulated.

Impact

H. Res. 426 affects House procedure rather than state law or federal substantive law directly. Its practical impact is to expedite consideration of two Congressional Review Act disapproval resolutions that, if ultimately enacted, could overturn an OCC banking regulation and an EPA air-quality regulation. The bill therefore has indirect consequences for regulated entities such as banks, financial institutions, and industrial facilities subject to Clean Air Act permitting and emissions requirements, but it does not itself amend the U.S. Code or state statutes.

Sentiment

The vote history suggests a closely divided and partisan atmosphere around the resolution. The House agreed to the resolution by a narrow margin, and the vote on ordering the previous question was also tight, indicating limited consensus and strong interest from both sides. The absence of committee transcript material limits insight into detailed debate, but the procedural posture and narrow votes point to a contentious measure tied to broader disputes over banking regulation, environmental regulation, and congressional oversight of agency rulemaking.

Contention

The main points of contention are the two underlying disapproval resolutions and the use of expedited House procedures to bring them to the floor. Supporters likely favored fast-track consideration of CRA disapproval of the OCC bank merger rule and the EPA reclassification rule, while opponents likely objected to overturning agency regulations and to waiving procedural safeguards. The tight vote margins indicate disagreement across party lines, with controversy centered on regulatory policy, congressional control over agency rules, and the scope of environmental and financial oversight.