Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4593) to amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to revise the definition of showerhead; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5184) to prohibit the Secretary of Energy from enforcing energy efficiency standards applicable to manufactured housing, and for other purposes; and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 6938) making consolidated appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, and for other purposes.

Bill Number: H.Res. 977
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 2
Policy Area: Congress
Status: Passed House
Latest Action: 2026-01-07: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Last Updated: 2026-06-11T05:06:19Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

H. Res. 977 is a procedural resolution adopted by the U.S. House of Representatives on January 7, 2026. Its main goal is to establish the rules for debating and voting on three specific bills (H.R. 4593, H.R. 5184, and H.R. 6938) during House proceedings, including waiving certain objections (points of order) and limiting debate to streamline the process.

Key Provisions

Consideration of H.R. 4593: This bill amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (a law from 1975 that sets energy efficiency standards for appliances) to update the definition of a "showerhead" (a device that sprays water in bathrooms). The resolution waives all points of order against the bill, treats it as already read, allows 1 hour of debate split equally between the majority and minority leaders of the Energy and Commerce Committee (or their designees), and permits one motion to recommit (a procedure to send the bill back to committee with possible changes). A vote on passage follows without other interruptions.

Consideration of H.R. 5184: This bill prohibits the Secretary of Energy from enforcing energy efficiency standards (rules to reduce energy use) on manufactured housing (prefabricated homes built in factories). The resolution waives points of order, adopts a committee-recommended substitute amendment (a revised version of the bill) automatically, treats the amended bill as read, allows 1 hour of debate split equally as above, and permits one motion to recommit before a final vote.

Consideration of H.R. 6938: This bill provides consolidated appropriations (funding allocations) for the federal government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026. The resolution waives points of order, treats the bill as read, allows 1 hour of debate split equally between the majority and minority leaders of the Appropriations Committee (or their designees), and includes special voting procedures (detailed in Section 4), plus one motion to recommit.

Special Procedures for H.R. 6938 (Section 4): After debate, the House Speaker (Chair) will hold separate votes on (1) keeping Division A (likely a specific funding section) and (2) keeping Divisions B and C (other funding sections). These votes use recorded yeas and nays (electronic roll-call votes). The final version of the bill will only include the retained sections, followed by a vote on engrossment (preparing the bill for Senate review) and third reading (final House approval step).

Technical Adjustments (Section 5): If any parts of H.R. 6938 are not retained, the Clerk of the House must update section numbers, division labels, and fix any related references in the bill text.

Explanatory Material (Section 6): The chair of the Appropriations Committee can add clarifying documents about H.R. 6938 to the Congressional Record (the official record of House proceedings) by January 9, 2026.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This resolution itself does not change any laws; it is purely procedural and only affects House floor rules for these bills. It waives standard procedural hurdles (like budget or germaneness rules) to expedite consideration, which is a temporary adjustment for this session but does not alter permanent House rules.

Potential Impacts

On Government Agencies: The underlying bills could affect the Department of Energy by revising showerhead rules (H.R. 4593), halting enforcement of housing efficiency standards (H.R. 5184), and providing or withholding funding via appropriations (H.R. 6938), potentially influencing energy policy implementation and federal budgets.
On Citizens: If passed, H.R. 4593 might allow more flexible showerhead designs, affecting water and energy use in homes. H.R. 5184 could reduce regulations on manufactured homes, lowering costs for buyers but possibly increasing energy consumption. H.R. 6938's funding decisions could impact public services like defense, health, and education depending on retained divisions.
On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though appropriations in H.R. 6938 might include foreign aid or energy policies with global effects.

Main Stakeholders Affected

Legislators: Members of the Energy and Commerce and Appropriations Committees, who control debate and may insert explanations.
Federal Agencies: Primarily the Department of Energy (affected by H.R. 4593 and 5184) and various agencies funded under H.R. 6938.
Industry and Consumers: Manufacturers of showerheads and appliances (H.R. 4593), builders and buyers of manufactured housing (H.R. 5184), and the general public relying on federal funding (H.R. 6938).
House Leadership: Benefits from streamlined procedures to manage floor time efficiently.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: The waivers of points of order could bypass checks like the Congressional Budget Act (which limits unfunded spending), potentially raising questions about fiscal responsibility, though this is common in procedural resolutions and does not violate law.
Constitutional: Aligns with Article I of the U.S. Constitution, which gives Congress rule-making power for its proceedings; no apparent conflicts.
Political: This resolution facilitates quick action on energy deregulation (H.R. 4593 and 5184) and budget priorities (H.R. 6938), possibly reflecting partisan priorities in the 119th Congress. The modular voting on H.R. 6938 allows targeted debates on funding divisions, which could lead to a fragmented bill if sections are rejected, affecting negotiations with the Senate.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Houchin, Erin [R-IN-9]

Recent Actions

2026-01-07: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2026-01-07: On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by recorded vote: 214 - 212 (Roll no. 3). (text: CR H113) (Roll call 3)
2026-01-07: Passed/agreed to in House: On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by recorded vote: 214 - 212 (Roll no. 3). (text: CR H113) (Roll call 3)
2026-01-07: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H122)
2026-01-07: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - The Chair put the question on agreeing to H. Res. 977 and by voice vote, announced that the ayes prevailed. Mr. McGovern demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
2026-01-07: On ordering the previous question Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 213 - 211 (Roll no. 2). (consideration: CR H121) (Roll call 2)
2026-01-07: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H121)
2026-01-07: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H. Res. 977, the Chair put the question on ordering the previous question and by voice vote announced the ayes had prevailed. Mr. McGovern demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
2026-01-07: DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 977.
2026-01-07: Considered as privileged matter. (consideration: CR H112-120)
2026-01-07: Placed on the House Calendar, Calendar No. 52.
2026-01-07: The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 4593, H.R. 5184, and H.R. 6938 under a closed rule with one hour of general debate and provides for one motion to recommit on each bill.
2026-01-07: The House Committee on Rules reported an original measure, H. Rept. 119-424, by Mrs. Houchin.
2026-01-07: The House Committee on Rules reported an original measure, H. Rept. 119-424, by Mrs. Houchin.

Bill Versions

Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4593) to amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to revise the definition of showerhead; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5184) to prohibit the Secretary of Energy from enforcing energy efficiency standards applicable to manufactured housing, and for other purposes; and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 6938) making consolidated appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, and for other purposes. — issued 2026-01-07 — PDF (3 pages)
Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4593) to amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to revise the definition of showerhead; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5184) to prohibit the Secretary of Energy from enforcing energy efficiency standards applicable to manufactured housing, and for other purposes; and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 6938) making consolidated appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, and for other purposes. — issued 2026-01-07 — PDF (6 pages)