Overview

Title

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 Dunes Sagebrush Lizard.

ELI5 AI

Congress is thinking about a rule that says a special kind of lizard called the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard is in danger. Some people want to stop this rule, and if they do, it will mean the lizard isn't officially in trouble anymore.

Summary AI

S. J. RES. 102 is a joint resolution that allows Congress to officially express its disapproval of a rule put forward by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. This rule concerns the endangered species status of the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard. If the resolution is passed, the rule that classifies the lizard as endangered will be nullified, meaning it will have no legal effect. The resolution was introduced by a group of senators, including Mr. Cruz and Mr. Cornyn, and has been referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Published

2024-07-11
Congress: 118
Session: 2
Chamber: SENATE
Status: Introduced in Senate
Date: 2024-07-11
Package ID: BILLS-118sjres102is

Bill Statistics

Size

Sections:
1
Words:
250
Pages:
2
Sentences:
8

Language

Nouns: 94
Verbs: 19
Adjectives: 10
Adverbs: 1
Numbers: 12
Entities: 24

Complexity

Average Token Length:
4.32
Average Sentence Length:
31.25
Token Entropy:
4.29
Readability (ARI):
18.07

AnalysisAI

General Summary of the Bill

The joint resolution, S. J. RES. 102, introduced in the 118th Congress, seeks to overturn a rule by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service concerning the endangered status of the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard. This resolution is an example of Congress exercising its power to disapprove rules under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, often used to express dissatisfaction or disagreement with regulatory actions taken by federal agencies. If passed, the resolution would ensure that the previous rule providing endangered species status for the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard would be rendered invalid and unenforceable.

Summary of Significant Issues

Several significant issues arise from this resolution:

  1. Impact on Conservation Efforts: By disapproving the rule, the resolution may hinder conservation efforts aimed at protecting the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard, thus potentially risking the survival of this endangered species.

  2. Lack of Justification: The resolution provides no explanation or justification for disapproving the rule, which could lead to questions regarding the motivations behind this legislative action. This lack of clarity could undermine public trust in legislative decision-making.

  3. Accessibility of Information: The resolution references a specific entry in the Federal Register (89 Fed. Reg. 43748), assuming readers have access to and can understand this document. This could exclude stakeholders who lack knowledge of navigating federal documents, which could limit public engagement and understanding.

  4. Unaddressed Environmental Impact: The resolution fails to discuss the potential environmental consequences of invalidating the rule, leaving stakeholders without a clear understanding of how this decision might affect ecosystems and biodiversity efforts.

Broad Public Impact

The resolution's broader impact on the public involves ecological, ethical, and transparency concerns. Overturning the rule might lead to negative consequences for biodiversity, which can have cascading effects on ecosystems and the benefits they provide, including clean air, water, and soil health. The lack of clear reasoning and potential for decreased stakeholder engagement may reduce public trust in legislative processes. Furthermore, by dismissing a decision intended to protect an endangered species, it may set a precedent for handling similar conservation issues, influencing public perception of environmental protection priorities.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

The impact of the resolution on specific stakeholders varies:

  • Environmentalists and Conservationists: Likely to view this resolution negatively as it undermines efforts to protect an endangered species, potentially leading to broader implications for conservation policy and practice.

  • Industries and Landowners: Individuals or groups directly impacted by regulations associated with the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard's habitat might see this resolution as a positive development, potentially easing restrictions or requirements affecting their operations or property rights.

  • Regulatory Agencies: For the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, this resolution could represent a setback in their conservation initiatives, potentially complicating future efforts to classify and protect other endangered species.

In summary, while the resolution seeks to assert congressional oversight over agency regulations, it raises questions and concerns about the motivations behind such decisions, the accessibility of public information, and the broader implications for environmental conservation efforts.

Issues

  • The disapproval of the rule may impact conservation efforts for the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard, a species listed as endangered, potentially putting the species at risk. This is significant due to potential ecological and ethical implications. [SECTIONS]

  • The language does not provide reasoning or justification for disapproving the rule, which might lead to questions about the motivations behind the decision, affecting transparency and accountability in legislative processes. [SECTIONS]

  • The reference to '89 Fed. Reg. 43748' requires the reader to have access to and understanding of the Federal Register, which might not be easily accessible or understandable for all stakeholders, affecting public engagement and comprehensibility. [SECTIONS]

  • The potential environmental impact of overturning the rule is not discussed, leaving stakeholders uninformed about the consequences. This omission may have significant implications for stakeholders concerned with environmental policy and conservation efforts. [SECTIONS]

Sections

Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.

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Summary AI

Congress has expressed disapproval of a rule from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service about the endangered species status of the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard, meaning the rule will not be enforced.