A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration relating to "Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Fuel System Integrity of Hydrogen Vehicles; Compressed Hydrogen Storage System Integrity; Incorporation by Reference".
Legislative Progress
Plain English Summary
AI-generatedWhat This Bill Does
This is a "joint resolution of disapproval," which is a specific tool Congress can use under a law called the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to cancel a federal regulation before it takes full effect. In this case, Congress is targeting a rule created by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — the federal agency responsible for vehicle safety standards. The rule in question sets safety requirements for hydrogen-powered vehicles, specifically focusing on how hydrogen fuel systems and compressed hydrogen storage tanks must be designed and tested to prevent leaks, fires, or explosions.
Who It Affects
This bill would primarily affect automakers and other companies developing hydrogen-powered vehicles, as well as the suppliers who manufacture hydrogen fuel storage systems. If the rule is cancelled, these companies would no longer be required to meet the specific federal safety standards NHTSA established for hydrogen fuel systems. It could also affect consumers who might purchase hydrogen vehicles in the future, since those safety standards are intended to protect drivers and passengers in the event of a crash or fuel system failure.
Where Things Stand
The bill has passed the Senate and been sent to the House, where it is currently being held. Notably, there was some procedural debate in the Senate about whether certain rules of the Congressional Review Act conflicted with each other — a point of order raised by Senate leadership that was ultimately rejected. If the full Congress passes this resolution and the President signs it, the NHTSA hydrogen vehicle safety rule would be eliminated and NHTSA would be restricted from issuing a substantially similar rule in the future without new authorization from Congress.
This summary is AI-generated for informational purposes. Always refer to the official bill text for legal accuracy.
Latest Action
Held at the desk.
May 26, 2025
Sponsor
Committees
Legislative History
Held at the desk.
May 26, 2025Received in the House.
May 26, 2025Message on Senate action sent to the House.
May 23, 2025Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 51 - 46. Record Vote Number: 275.
May 21, 2025Ruling of the Chair that the point of order raised by Senator Thune with respect to Joint Resolutions that meet all the requirements of Section 802 of the Congressional Review Act or are disapproving of agency actions which have been determined to be rules subject to the Congressional Review Act by a legal decision from the Government Accountability Office, be entitled to expedited procedures under the Congressional Review Act was sustained.
May 21, 2025Point of order by Senator Thune: Shall Joint Resolutions that meet all the requirements of Section 802 of the Congressional Review Act or are disapproving of agency actions which have been determined to be rules subject to the Congressional Review Act by a legal decision from the Government Accountability Office, be entitled to expedited procedures under the Congressional Review Act? agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 51 - 46. Record Vote Number: 274.
May 21, 2025Ruling of the Chair that the point of order raised by Senator Thune that points of order be in order under the Congressional Review Act sustained.
May 21, 2025Point of order by Senator Thune: Shall points of order be in order under the Congressional Review Act? agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 51 - 46. Record Vote Number: 273.
May 21, 2025Ruling of the Chair that the point of order raised by Senator Schumer that two points of order are not in order at the same time sustained.
May 21, 2025Motion to table the appeal that two points of order are not in order at the same time agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 51 - 46. Record Vote Number: 266.
May 21, 2025Motion by Senator Schumer to appeal the ruling of the chair that two points of order are not in order at the same time.
May 21, 2025Ruling of the Chair that the point of order raised by Senator Schumer with respect to points of order not in order under section 802(d)(1) ruled out of order.
May 21, 2025Passed Senate without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 51 - 46. Record Vote Number: 275. (text: CR S3051)
May 21, 2025Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 85.
May 21, 2025Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged, by petition, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 802(c).
May 21, 2025Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged, by petition, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 802(c).
May 21, 2025Point of order by Senator Schumer that points of order are not in order under section 802(d)(1) of the Congressional Review Act raised in Senate.
May 21, 2025Motion to table the point of order made by Senator Thune, the question being: Shall points of order be in order under the Congressional Review Act? rejected in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 46 - 52. Record Vote Number: 265.
May 21, 2025The Chair, under the provisions of Rule XX, submits the question to the Senate for its decision: Shall points of order be in order under the Congressional Review Act?.
May 21, 2025Point of order by Senator Thune that points of order are in order under the Congressional Review Act given sections 802(d)(1), 802(d)(2), and 802(d)(4) are in conflict with one another raised in Senate.
May 21, 2025Measure laid before Senate by motion. (consideration: CR S3025, S3031-3034, S3038, S3047-3051)
May 21, 2025Motion to proceed to consideration of measure agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 53 - 46. Record Vote Number: 264.
May 21, 2025Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
May 19, 2025Introduced in Senate
May 19, 2025