Overview
Title
Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Federal Highway Administration relating to National Performance Management Measures; Assessing Performance of the National Highway System, Greenhouse Gas Emissions Measure.
ELI5 AI
S. J. RES. 61 is about Congress saying "no" to a new rule that would check how much pollution comes from big roads. By making this rule go away, they are stopping it from happening.
Summary AI
The joint resolution S. J. RES. 61 proposes that Congress disapprove a rule submitted by the Federal Highway Administration. This rule concerns the "National Performance Management Measures; Assessing Performance of the National Highway System, Greenhouse Gas Emissions Measure" as listed in the Federal Register on December 7, 2023. Essentially, if enacted, this resolution would prevent the rule from taking effect.
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AnalysisAI
Summary of the Bill
The proposed congressional resolution, S. J. RES. 61, seeks to nullify a specific rule implemented by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The rule in question involves the assessment of the performance of the National Highway System with a particular focus on measuring greenhouse gas emissions. Introduced in the Senate on February 7, 2024, the resolution eventually aims to prevent the rule, which appeared in the Federal Register on December 7, 2023, from taking effect.
Significant Issues
Several issues arise from the legislative text of the bill. A key concern is the lack of clarity regarding the reasons for Congress's decision to disapprove the FHWA rule. Without explicit explanations, stakeholders, including the general public, may struggle to understand the rationale behind this legislative move. Furthermore, the language used in the bill is relatively complex, potentially making it difficult for a broad audience to comprehend its implications. Lastly, the bill does not provide a detailed justification for why the rule should be rendered ineffective, undermining transparency and accountability in the legislative process.
Impact on the Public
The broader public may experience varying effects due to this bill. On one hand, disapproving the rule could signal legislative hesitation in prioritizing measures aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in transportation. This may affect public perceptions of Congress's commitment to environmental issues. Given the vital role of transportation infrastructure in everyday life, the public could also view the decision as pertinent to regional and national policy priorities.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
The decision to nullify the FHWA rule could have both positive and negative implications for different stakeholders. For instance, transportation industry stakeholders who may view greenhouse gas emissions regulations as burdensome could see this disapproval as a relief. Conversely, environmental advocacy groups aiming to tackle climate change by reducing emissions could perceive this action as a setback in efforts to enforce accountable environmental measures.
Additionally, state and local governments tasked with implementing federal transportation guidelines may find their planning processes affected by this discontinuity, leading to uncertainties as they strive to align with environmental goals. The lack of clear guidance from Congress on these issues might also create challenges for these entities in fostering sustainable transportation strategies.
Ultimately, while the bill stops a specific rule from taking effect, the absence of detailed explanations and justifications in the resolution may result in ongoing debates and discussions regarding the direction of national policies on transportation performance and emissions control.
Issues
The bill lacks clarity and transparency because it does not state specific reasons for disapproving the rule submitted by the Federal Highway Administration. This omission can lead to confusion and mistrust among stakeholders who wish to understand the rationale behind the congressional disapproval. [SECTIONS]
The language in the bill is somewhat complex and could be simplified for better understanding by the general public. Clear and accessible language is crucial for maintaining transparency and ensuring that citizens are adequately informed about legislative actions that might affect them. [SECTIONS]
There is an absence of a detailed explanation or justification in the bill text for why the rule 'shall have no force or effect.' This lack of detail may raise concerns about transparency and accountability in the legislative process. The public and key stakeholders might find it difficult to assess the impact or necessity of the disapproval without such information. [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 decided to reject a rule from the Federal Highway Administration about measuring the performance of highways and tracking greenhouse gas emissions. This means the rule will not be put into effect.