H.J.Res. 20: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States recognizing and securing the fundamental right to life, liberty, and property, which includes housing, health care, education, and nutrition.

HJRES20 is a simple but powerful resolution. It says Congress disapproves the Department of Energy rule titled “Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Gas-fired Instantaneous Water Heaters,” published at 89 Fed. Reg. 105188 on December 26, 2024. If enacted, that rule would "have no force or effect."

The bill uses chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, better known as the Congressional Review Act. That matters because the CRA gives Congress a fast-track way to overturn recently issued federal rules. In plain terms, this resolution is not rewriting the energy law itself; it is blocking the DOE rule from operating.

The practical impact falls on companies that make or sell consumer gas-fired instantaneous water heaters, along with homeowners, landlords, builders, and contractors who buy or install them. If the rule is nullified, any new federal conservation standards in that December 26, 2024 publication at 89 Fed. Reg. 105188 would not take effect.

One unusual feature is the mismatch between the bill header and the actual legislative text provided. The header describes a proposed constitutional amendment about life, liberty, property, housing, health care, education, and nutrition. But the actual text in the fact sheet is entirely about disapproving a Department of Energy rule on gas-fired instantaneous water heaters. For analysis purposes, the controlling substance here is the actual bill text.