H.R. 3908 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Rules, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned, Jun 11, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryRequires Congress to approve emergency declarations
When the President declares a national emergency, Congress would have to vote to approve it within 20 days or it automatically ends. The President could renew an emergency each year, but Congress would have to approve that renewal too. Any emergency that isn't renewed would automatically expire after five years. The President would also have to report regularly to Congress about why the emergency is needed and how the money is being spent.
How it affects you
This mainly changes how the government operates at a high level rather than affecting your daily life directly. If you're interested in how presidential power works or how Congress oversees the executive branch, this reshapes that relationship by giving lawmakers more say in whether emergencies can continue.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Jun 11, 2025)
National Emergencies Reform Act of 2025
This bill requires congressional approval for national emergencies, termination of national emergencies after five years, and related reporting by the President. It also repeals the exemption of funds for overseas contingency operations/global war on terrorism from sequestration, which is a process of automatic, usually across-the-board spending reductions under which budgetary resources are permanently cancelled to enforce specific budget policy goals.
The bill requires that the President’s declaration of a national emergency and specified emergency powers terminate after 20 Senate session days and 20 House legislative days unless Congress passes a joint resolution approving the declaration and emergency powers. Congress must similarly approve the President’s annual renewal of emergencies. The bill also establishes new procedures for expedited congressional review of national emergencies and removes the existing requirement for a congressional termination review every six months. Emergencies automatically terminate after five years.
The bill continues to apply existing law to national emergencies for which the President proposes exercising certain international emergency powers.
Additionally, the bill requires the President to provide to Congress a report on relevant circumstances when transmitting a declaration and status reports every three months during the emergency. Also, the President’s budget must include a report on the expenditure of funds pursuant to national emergencies and presidential emergency action documents must be submitted to Congress.
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. R. 3908
A BILL
National Emergencies Reform Act of 2025
Sponsor: Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN-9) · Introduced Jun 11, 2025 · Emergency Management · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Jun 12, 2025: “Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.”
Sections
Sections · 5
- Sec. 1Short titleNo change
- Sec. 2Improving checks and balances on the use of the National Emergencies ActNo change
- Sec. 3National Emergencies Act declaration spending reporting in the President’s budgetNo change
- Sec. 4Disclosure to Congress of presidential emergency action documentsNo change
- Sec. 5Congressional DesignationsNo change