S.Amdt. 617

Mr. Merkley submitted SA 617 to the concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2025 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2026 through 2034.

• The purpose of the amendment is to add a point of order against waiving National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements for oil and gas projects.
• It aims to make it out of order in the Senate to consider any bill, joint resolution, motion, amendment, amendment between the Houses, or conference report that would weaken environmental review requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 to streamline oil and gas-related development.
• It establishes that this point of order may only be waived or suspended in the Senate by an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members, duly chosen and sworn.
• It also requires an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members of the Senate, duly chosen and sworn, to sustain an appeal of the ruling of the Chair on this point of order.