Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 6703) to ensure access to affordable health insurance; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 498) to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to prohibit Federal Medicaid funding for gender transition procedures for minors; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3492) to amend section 116 of title 18, United States Code, with respect to genital and bodily mutilation and chemical castration of minors; and relating to consideration of the bill (H.R. 4776) to amend the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 to clarify ambiguous provisions and facilitate a more efficient, effective, and timely environmental review process.
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 953
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Congress
- Status
- Passed House
- Latest Action
- 2025-12-17: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-11T20:09:47Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
H. Res. 953 is a procedural resolution adopted by the U.S. House of Representatives on December 17, 2025, to establish special rules for floor consideration of four specific bills (H.R. 6703, H.R. 498, H.R. 3492, and an amendment to H.R. 4776). Its main goal is to expedite debate and voting on these bills by waiving certain procedural objections (known as "points of order") and limiting debate time, allowing quicker advancement without standard delays.
Key Provisions
- Consideration of H.R. 6703 (ensuring access to affordable health insurance):
The bill is made in order for debate as if already read. All points of order are waived. Debate is limited to 1 hour, equally divided and controlled by the chairs and ranking minority members (or designees) of the Committees on Education and Workforce, Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means. A motion to recommit (send the bill back to committee) is allowed, but the "previous question" (ending debate) is ordered to final passage without other interruptions.
- Consideration of H.R. 498 (prohibiting federal Medicaid funding for gender transition procedures for minors under title XIX of the Social Security Act):
Similar rules apply: bill considered as read, all points of order waived, 1 hour of debate controlled by the chair and ranking minority member (or designees) of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and one motion to recommit.
- Consideration of H.R. 3492 (amending 18 U.S.C. § 116 to address genital and bodily mutilation and chemical castration of minors):
A committee-recommended substitute amendment (a full replacement text) is automatically adopted. The bill is considered as read and amended, with all points of order waived. Debate is limited to 1 hour, controlled by the chair and ranking minority member (or designees) of the Committee on the Judiciary. One additional amendment (printed in the Rules Committee report) is allowed if offered by a designated member, with specified debate time divided between proponent and opponent. A motion to recommit is permitted.
- Amendment to H.R. 4776 (amending the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 for more efficient environmental reviews, under prior House Resolution 951):
A specific further amendment (detailed in Sec. 5) is automatically adopted during consideration in the House and the Committee of the Whole (a procedural stage for amendments).
- Text of the Amendment to H.R. 4776 (Sec. 5):
Adds a new section preserving "ongoing administrative corrections." The amendments in H.R. 4776 do not apply to any federal agency action where, between January 20, 2025, and the date of enactment, the agency has filed a motion to voluntarily remand a case (return it to the agency for review) or otherwise reopened, reconsidered, or started corrective action under its legal authority—even if the correction is incomplete by enactment.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This resolution itself introduces no direct changes to existing law, as it is purely procedural. However, it facilitates potential changes via the underlying bills:
- H.R. 6703 could expand or adjust health insurance access mechanisms.
- H.R. 498 would restrict Medicaid (a joint federal-state health program for low-income individuals) funding for certain medical procedures on minors.
- H.R. 3492 would update federal criminal law (18 U.S.C. § 116, which covers female genital mutilation) to explicitly include other forms of bodily mutilation and chemical castration of minors.
- The amendment to H.R. 4776 carves out an exception to protect pre-enactment agency actions from retroactive application, potentially shielding ongoing environmental reviews from new efficiency rules.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Federal agencies (e.g., those handling Medicaid or environmental reviews) may face restricted funding or altered review processes if the bills pass, but the H.R. 4776 amendment protects recent agency initiatives from disruption, allowing smoother transitions.
- On Citizens: Could limit access to certain gender-affirming medical procedures for minors under Medicaid (affecting low-income families), enhance criminal protections against specific harms to minors, improve health insurance affordability, and speed up environmental permitting (potentially benefiting developers but raising concerns for environmental protections).
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though H.R. 3492's criminal amendments could influence U.S. stance on international human rights issues related to child protection.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Minors and Families: Directly impacted by restrictions on gender transition procedures (H.R. 498) and enhanced criminal penalties for mutilation (H.R. 3492), particularly in low-income or Medicaid-reliant households.
- Healthcare Providers and Insurers: Affected by funding prohibitions (H.R. 498) and potential expansions in affordable insurance (H.R. 6703).
- Environmental Groups, Developers, and Agencies: The H.R. 4776 amendment could preserve status quo for ongoing projects while streamlining future reviews, benefiting industries seeking permits but challenging conservation efforts.
- Congressional Committees: Education and Workforce, Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and Judiciary—leaders control limited debate, influencing bill outcomes.
- Federal and State Governments: Medicaid administration and environmental policy implementation would shift.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Waiving points of order (e.g., under the Congressional Budget Act or rules on germaneness) streamlines passage but could invite post-passage challenges if bills violate budget or procedural norms. The H.R. 3492 amendments to criminal law may raise questions about federal jurisdiction over state-regulated medical practices.
- Constitutional: Potential free speech or equal protection concerns with restrictions on gender transition procedures (H.R. 498), as they touch on bodily autonomy and parental rights under the 14th Amendment; the criminal expansions (H.R. 3492) align with child welfare precedents but could face due process scrutiny. The environmental amendment respects administrative law principles by avoiding retroactivity.
- Political: As a "rule" resolution, it reflects majority party control (likely Republican in this 119th Congress context), enabling fast-tracking of conservative priorities like restricting gender-affirming care and environmental deregulation. This could heighten partisan divides, with limited debate reducing minority input and potentially leading to Senate or veto challenges.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Griffith, H. Morgan [R-VA-9]
Recent Actions
- 2025-12-17: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- 2025-12-17: On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by recorded vote: 213 - 209 (Roll no. 344). (text: CR H5947) (Roll call 344)
- 2025-12-17: Passed/agreed to in House: On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by recorded vote: 213 - 209 (Roll no. 344). (Roll call 344)
- 2025-12-17: On ordering the previous question Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 204 - 203 (Roll no. 343). (Roll call 343)
- 2025-12-17: DEBATE - The House resumed debate on H. Res. 953.
- 2025-12-17: DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 953.
- 2025-12-17: Considered as privileged matter. (consideration: CR H5947-5956)
- 2025-12-17: Placed on the House Calendar, Calendar No. 51.
- 2025-12-17: The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 6703 and H.R. 498 under a closed rule and H.R. 3492 under a structured rule with one hour of general debate and one motion to recommit on each bill.
- 2025-12-17: The House Committee on Rules reported an original measure, H. Rept. 119-411, by Mr. Griffith.
- 2025-12-17: The House Committee on Rules reported an original measure, H. Rept. 119-411, by Mr. Griffith.
Bill Versions
- Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 6703) to ensure access to affordable health insurance; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 498) to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to prohibit Federal Medicaid funding for gender transition procedures for minors; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3492) to amend section 116 of title 18, United States Code, with respect to genital and bodily mutilation and chemical castration of minors; and relating to consideration of the bill (H.R. 4776) to amend the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 to clarify ambiguous provisions and facilitate a more efficient, effective, and timely environmental review process. — issued 2025-12-17 — PDF (4 pages)
- Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 6703) to ensure access to affordable health insurance; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 498) to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to prohibit Federal Medicaid funding for gender transition procedures for minors; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3492) to amend section 116 of title 18, United States Code, with respect to genital and bodily mutilation and chemical castration of minors; and relating to consideration of the bill (H.R. 4776) to amend the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 to clarify ambiguous provisions and facilitate a more efficient, effective, and timely environmental review process. — issued 2025-12-17 — PDF (6 pages)