US Federal Senate Bill SJR133

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 5/13/26
• Introduced: 3/18/26
• Refer: 3/18/26

Caption

A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to the withdrawal of the rule relating to "Fair Credit Reporting; Background Screening".

Summary

S.J. Res. 133 is a congressional disapproval resolution under the Congressional Review Act. It targets a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau action that withdrew a prior rule concerning “Fair Credit Reporting; Background Screening,” originally published at 89 Fed. Reg. 4171 and later withdrawn at 90 Fed. Reg. 20084. If enacted, the resolution would nullify the withdrawal and restore the withdrawn rule’s legal effect, preventing the agency’s withdrawal from standing. The measure does not create a new regulatory program; instead, it uses Congress’s CRA authority to override an agency rulemaking action. Its practical effect would be on federal fair credit reporting and background screening requirements, which can affect employers, consumer reporting agencies, background check vendors, and individuals subject to screening. By disapproving the withdrawal, the resolution would preserve the underlying CFPB rule rather than allow the agency to remove it from the regulatory framework.

Impact

The resolution would affect federal administrative law by voiding the CFPB’s withdrawal of the fair credit reporting/background screening rule and making that withdrawal have no force or effect. In practice, it would preserve the existing rule’s applicability under the Fair Credit Reporting Act-related regulatory regime, with downstream effects for background screening practices, consumer reporting compliance, and employment screening procedures. No state statutes are directly amended, but state-regulated actors that rely on or mirror federal credit-reporting standards could be indirectly affected.

Sentiment

The available record suggests the bill faced procedural resistance rather than broad consensus. The last recorded action was a motion to proceed to consideration rejected in the Senate by voice vote, indicating the measure did not advance at that stage. Because no committee transcript is available, there is limited evidence of detailed floor or committee debate, but the procedural outcome suggests at least some opposition or lack of sufficient support to move forward.

Contention

The main point of contention is whether Congress should overturn the CFPB’s decision to withdraw the background screening rule. Supporters of the resolution would generally be expected to favor keeping the rule in place for consumer protection and uniform credit-reporting standards, while opponents would likely argue that the agency should have discretion to withdraw or revise the rule and that the underlying requirements may be burdensome for employers or screening firms. The Senate’s rejection of the motion to proceed indicates disagreement over whether the resolution should be considered at all.