H.J.Res. 75: Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014

H.J. Res. 75 uses the Congressional Review Act to block one specific federal rule from the Department of Energy. The rule comes from the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and is titled “Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Commercial Refrigerators, Freezers, and Refrigerator-Freezers.” It was published in the Federal Register at 90 Fed. Reg. 7464 on January 21, 2025.

The practical effect is simple and sweeping: if this resolution takes effect, that DOE rule “shall have no force or effect.” In plain English, the energy conservation standards in that January 21, 2025 rule would be erased and could not be enforced as written.

This is a narrow bill in text but potentially broad in impact. It does not create a new replacement standard, set a new deadline, or provide money for businesses to comply. Instead, it is a straight disapproval measure under Chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, the law that lets Congress nullify recently issued federal rules.

The biggest policy stakes are for manufacturers, sellers, and buyers of commercial refrigeration equipment. Blocking the rule could reduce near-term compliance burdens for companies that make or sell commercial refrigerators, freezers, and refrigerator-freezers. But it could also halt whatever energy-savings and operating-cost reductions the Department of Energy expected from the standards in 90 Fed. Reg. 7464.