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 Primary Drinking Water Regulations for Lead and Copper: Improvements (LCRI)".
- Bill Number
- H.J.Res. 18
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Environmental Protection
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-01-13: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2025-02-14T14:22:01Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This joint resolution (H.J. Res. 18) aims to block a new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that updates national standards for lead and copper in drinking water. It uses the Congressional Review Act (CRA), a law allowing Congress to review and overturn certain federal agency regulations shortly after they are issued, to prevent the rule from being implemented.
Key Provisions
- Disapproval of the Rule: The resolution explicitly disapproves the EPA's rule titled "National Primary Drinking Water Regulations for Lead and Copper: Improvements (LCRI)," published in the Federal Register on October 30, 2024 (89 Fed. Reg. 86418).
- Nullification: If enacted, the rule would have no legal force or effect, meaning the new requirements it sets out cannot be enforced.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- This resolution does not create new laws but invokes the CRA to override an existing agency rule. Without it, the EPA's updates—intended to strengthen protections against lead and copper contamination in drinking water—would replace older 1991 standards.
- It maintains the current regulatory framework from the Safe Drinking Water Act (1974), avoiding the proposed enhancements like stricter action levels for lead, improved sampling methods, and requirements for replacing lead service lines.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The EPA would be unable to enforce the new rule, potentially delaying or halting related compliance efforts and resource allocation for monitoring and remediation.
- On Citizens: Delays stronger safeguards against lead exposure, which can harm child development and adult health (e.g., neurological issues). Communities with older plumbing, especially low-income or minority areas, might face prolonged risks to drinking water safety.
- On Water Systems and Utilities: Public water suppliers would not need to adopt the rule's upgrades, such as mandatory lead pipe replacement plans or enhanced public notifications, reducing short-term costs but possibly increasing long-term health-related expenses.
- International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it could signal U.S. policy shifts on environmental standards, affecting perceptions of U.S. commitment to global water quality goals.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Loses authority to implement the rule, affecting its regulatory agenda.
- Water Utilities and Local Governments: Avoid immediate compliance burdens but may face ongoing liability for contamination issues.
- Public Health Organizations and Citizens: Particularly those in areas with lead risks, such as families with young children; advocates for stricter standards (e.g., environmental groups) would see their efforts undermined.
- Congress and Industry Groups: Demonstrates congressional influence over executive actions; industries like plumbing or manufacturing might benefit from delayed regulations.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Relies on the CRA (enacted in 1996), which gives Congress a fast-track process to veto rules within 60 legislative days of submission. If passed by both chambers and signed by the President (or overridden if vetoed), it permanently blocks the rule and prevents the EPA from issuing a substantially similar one without new congressional approval. This upholds separation of powers by checking agency rulemaking.
- Constitutional: Reinforces Congress's oversight role under Article I, ensuring elected representatives can review unelected agency actions, though it raises questions about the balance between environmental protection and regulatory efficiency.
- Political: Highlights partisan divides on environmental policy; introduced in the 119th Congress (starting 2025), it reflects efforts to roll back Biden-era regulations, potentially setting a precedent for future CRA uses in areas like climate or public health. As of introduction on January 13, 2025, it was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce for review.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2025-01-13: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2025-01-13: Introduced in House
- 2025-01-13: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- 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 Primary Drinking Water Regulations for Lead and Copper: Improvements (LCRI)". — issued 2025-01-13 — PDF (2 pages)