S.J.Res. 91 · Where this bill is now
Became law through another bill
Its text was included in H.J.Res. 131, Public Law 119-52 (per the Congressional Research Service). This bill number itself: In committee.
See H.J.Res. 131 on Congress.gov ↗
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryReverses oil leasing limits in Arctic refuge
This joint resolution cancels a recent rule from the Bureau of Land Management about oil and gas leasing in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The rule being canceled had reduced the acres available for oil and gas development from 1.6 million acres down to 1.2 million acres to protect certain resources. By canceling this rule, the resolution would instead require at least 400,000 acres to be made available for oil and gas leasing, with those acres located where oil and gas is most likely to be found.
How it affects you
This would directly affect people and companies involved in oil and gas development in Alaska, opening up more federal land for potential drilling. For most Americans, the effects are indirect—this touches on ongoing debates about Arctic conservation, energy development, and climate policy, but the official summary doesn't detail specific impacts on everyday life for most people.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Oct 28, 2025)
This joint resolution nullifies the rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), issued on December 9, 2024, and related to the record of decision (ROD) 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 adopted Alternative D2 in the 2024 Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, which 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 SessionS.J.Res. 91
JOINT RESOLUTION
A 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: Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) · Introduced Oct 28, 2025 · Energy · 2 versions of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Dec 4, 2025: “Indefinitely postponed by Senate by Unanimous Consent.”
How Congress voted
Official roll callsSenate · On the Motion to Proceed · Dec 3, 2025
Motion to Proceed Agreed to 49–47
| Party | Yes | No | Didn’t vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 0 | 44 | 1 |
| Independents | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Republicans | 49 | 1 | 3 |
1 member voted against most of their party: 1 Republicans voted No.
Source: senate.gov · roll call 630
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.