H.J.Res. 78 · Where this bill is now
In the Senate
Passed the House May 1, 2025. Received May 5, 2025; no Senate vote yet
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryRemoves endangered species protection for smelt
This is about a small fish called longfin smelt that lives in the San Francisco Bay-Delta area. In July 2024, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service declared a specific population of this fish endangered, giving it legal protection. This resolution would undo that decision and remove the species from the endangered list.
How it affects you
People who fish or work in water management in the San Francisco Bay-Delta region would see the most direct change, as rules protecting the smelt's habitat would no longer apply. The broader public won't see immediate day-to-day effects, though the decision involves trade-offs between environmental protection and other water uses in the region.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Mar 21, 2025)
This joint resolution nullifies the rule issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service titled Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Endangered Species Status for the San Francisco Bay-Delta Distinct Population Segment of the Longfin Smelt and published on July 30, 2024. The rule lists the San Francisco Bay-Delta distinct population segment of longfin smelt, a fish species of the Pacific Coast, as an endangered species. Thus, the joint resolution removes protection for the species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.
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. 78
JOINT RESOLUTION
Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service relating to "Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Endangered Species Status for the San Francisco Bay-Delta Distinct Population Segment of the Longfin Smelt".
Sponsor: Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA-1) · Introduced Mar 21, 2025 · Animals · 2 versions of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action May 5, 2025: “Received in the Senate.”
How Congress voted
Official roll callsHouse · On Passage · May 1, 2025
Passage Passed 216–195
| Party | Yes | No | Didn’t vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 3 | 194 | 16 |
| Republicans | 213 | 1 | 6 |
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 2 official versions.