H.J.Res. 131 · Where this bill is now
Became law
Public Law 119-52, Dec 11, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryOpens Arctic refuge to oil and gas leasing
This resolution cancels a recent government decision that had limited oil and gas leasing in part of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. By doing this, it would expand the amount of public land available for companies to lease and develop for oil and gas. The resolution reverts to rules that make more of the refuge available for drilling.
How it affects you
If you live or work in Alaska, this could affect your region's economy and environment. For most Americans, the direct effects depend on whether you care about Arctic conservation, energy production, or both. The summary doesn't spell out how this would change energy prices, jobs, or other everyday impacts for people across the country.
Read the official summary (Public Law, Dec 11, 2025)
This joint resolution opens public land for oil and gas leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Specifically, the joint resolution nullifies the record of decision (ROD) issued by the Bureau of Land Management on December 9, 2024, for the program that leases, develops, produces, and transports oil and gas in and from the Coastal Plain program area within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
The 2024 ROD that is being nullified by this resolution replaced the 2020 ROD that made all of the approximately 1.6 million acres of the program area available for oil and gas leasing. The 2024 ROD made approximately 1.2 million acres unavailable for leasing or exploration in order to protect and conserve resources and certain uses in these areas. However, the 2024 ROD requires the statutory minimum of 400,000 acres to be made available for oil and gas leasing in a specified lease sale, subject to certain stipulations and operating procedures. Under current law, those acres must be located in the areas with the highest potential for the discovery of hydrocarbons.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH.J.Res. 131
JOINT RESOLUTION
Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management relating to Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program Record of Decision.
Sponsor: Rep. Nicholas J. Begich (R-AK-At Large) · Introduced Oct 10, 2025 · Energy · 3 versions of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Dec 11, 2025: “Became Public Law No: 119-52.”
How Congress voted
Official roll callsHouse · On Passage · Nov 18, 2025
Passage Passed 217–209
| Party | Yes | No | Didn’t vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 3 | 208 | 3 |
| Republicans | 214 | 1 | 4 |
4 members voted against most of their party: 3 Democrats voted Yes and 1 Republicans voted No.
Congress votes on whole bills and amendments, not on single sections.
Sections
The wording of this bill hasn’t changed across its 3 official versions.