S.J.Res. 86 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Oct 1, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryBlocks EPA approval of South Dakota air plan
This joint resolution would cancel an Environmental Protection Agency decision that approved South Dakota's plan for improving visibility in national parks and wilderness areas. The EPA's regional haze rule asks states to work on making the air clearer in these scenic places, and South Dakota had submitted its plan to meet that requirement.
How it affects you
If this becomes law, it would affect people in South Dakota and visitors to the state's national parks and wilderness areas. Without this EPA approval, the state's efforts to improve air visibility in those locations would be blocked, which could mean the air quality improvements South Dakota had planned might not move forward as intended.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Oct 1, 2025)
This joint resolution nullifies the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) final rule titled Air Plan Approval; South Dakota; Regional Haze Plan for the Second Implementation Period (90 Fed. Reg. 41893) and published on August 28, 2025. The final rule approved South Dakota’s revision to its state implementation plan to satisfy the requirements of the EPA’s regional haze rule. (The regional haze rule requires states to take actions to improve visibility in national parks and wilderness areas.)
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 SessionS.J.Res. 86
JOINT RESOLUTION
A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "Air Plan Approval; South Dakota; Regional Haze Plan for the Second Implementation Period".
Sponsor: Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) · Introduced Oct 1, 2025 · Environmental Protection · 2 versions of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Jan 7, 2026: “Motion to proceed to consideration of measure rejected in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 43 - 50. Record Vote Number: 4.”
How Congress voted
Official roll callsSenate · On the Motion to Proceed · Jan 7, 2026
Motion to Proceed Rejected 43–50
| Party | Yes | No | Didn’t vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 41 | 0 | 4 |
| Independents | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Republicans | 0 | 50 | 3 |
Source: senate.gov · roll call 4
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.