A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management relating to "Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness: Gulf of America".
- Bill Number
- S.J.Res. 87
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-10-01: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-24T12:48:03Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This joint resolution (S.J. Res. 87) aims to disapprove and nullify a specific rule issued by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), an agency within the U.S. Department of the Interior. The rule in question, titled "Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness: Gulf of America," was published in the Federal Register on June 6, 2025. The resolution invokes the Congressional Review Act (chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code), a law allowing Congress to overturn certain federal agency rules.
Key Provisions
- Disapproval of the Rule: The resolution explicitly states that Congress disapproves the BOEM rule referenced as 90 Fed. Reg. 24066.
- Nullification: If enacted, the rule "shall have no force or effect," meaning it cannot be implemented or enforced.
- Procedural Details: Introduced in the Senate on October 1, 2025, by Senator Whitehouse, read twice, and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- This resolution does not amend existing statutes but uses the Congressional Review Act to reverse a recent agency action. The Act allows Congress to veto rules submitted to it within a certain period, preventing the rule from taking effect and prohibiting similar rules on the same topic without new legislation.
- It would effectively block any administrative changes proposed by the rule, such as renaming geographic features (e.g., the Gulf of Mexico to "Gulf of America," based on the rule's title), restoring the status quo prior to the rule's submission.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: BOEM would be barred from enforcing the rule, potentially requiring the agency to maintain current naming or regulatory practices in ocean energy management areas, such as offshore leasing or environmental oversight in the Gulf region.
- On Citizens: Minimal direct practical effects, but it could preserve familiar geographic names, avoiding confusion in navigation, education, or public discourse; symbolically, it maintains international standards for place names.
- On International Relations: Renaming a major body of water like the Gulf of Mexico could strain relations with neighboring countries (e.g., Mexico), so nullifying the rule avoids diplomatic tensions and upholds globally recognized nomenclature used in treaties and trade.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Congress: Gains authority to override the executive branch's regulatory actions via the Congressional Review Act.
- Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM): Directly impacted as the issuing agency; its rulemaking authority on this topic is curtailed.
- Energy and Natural Resource Industries: Offshore oil, gas, and renewable energy sectors in the Gulf region may benefit from regulatory stability, avoiding disruptions from name changes in permits or maps.
- General Public and Environmental Groups: Citizens in coastal states (e.g., Texas, Louisiana) and advocacy organizations could see preserved traditional names, influencing cultural or environmental planning.
- International Partners: Countries bordering the Gulf, such as Mexico and Cuba, indirectly affected by maintaining standard geographic references.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces the Congressional Review Act as a check on executive overreach, ensuring agency rules align with congressional intent; once disapproved, the rule cannot be reissued without new legislation, providing a permanent bar unless overridden.
- Constitutional: Highlights the separation of powers, with Congress exercising its legislative authority to review and reject executive regulations, upholding Article I's role in lawmaking.
- Political: Represents a bipartisan or targeted critique of symbolic executive actions; as a Senate-introduced resolution, it requires passage by both chambers and presidential signature (or veto override) to become law, potentially signaling debates on national identity, patriotism, or administrative priorities without altering substantive policy.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Recent Actions
- 2025-10-01: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 2025-10-01: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management relating to Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness: Gulf of America. — issued 2025-10-01 — PDF (2 pages)