Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management relating to Public Land Order No. 7917 for Withdrawal of Federal Lands; Cook, Lake, and Saint Louis Counties, MN.

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Introduced 2026-01-12Topic: environment · energy · land use zoning

Summary

Summary by the Congressional Research Service

This joint resolution opens approximately 225,504 acres of National Forest System lands in Cook, Lake, and Saint Louis Counties in Minnesota to mineral and geothermal leasing. Specifically, the joint resolution nullifies Public Land Order 7917, which withdrew such land from mineral and geothermal leasing for 20 years beginning in 2023. The Bureau of Land Management issued the order to protect and preserve the Rainy River Watershed, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Mining Protection Area, and the 1854 Ceded Territory of the Lake Superior Chippewa from potential adverse effects of mineral and geothermal exploration and development. The joint resolution removes such protections and allows such land to be leased for the exploration and development of minerals and geothermal energy.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Recorded votes

Date	Chamber	Question	Result	Yeas	Nays
2026-04-16	Senate roll 84	On the Joint Resolution H.J.Res. 140	Joint Resolution Passed	50	49
2026-04-15	Senate roll 83	On the Motion to Proceed H.J.Res. 140	Motion to Proceed Agreed to	51	49
2026-04-15	Senate roll 82	On the Motion to Table H.J.Res. 140	Motion to Table Agreed to	51	48
2026-01-21	House roll 38	On Passage	Passed	214	208

Action history

Date	Chamber	Action	Status effect
2026-04-27		Became Public Law No: 119-85.	enact
2026-04-27		Became Public Law No: 119-85.	enact
2026-04-27		Signed by President.
2026-04-27		Signed by President.	enact
2026-04-17	House	Presented to President.	sent to executive
2026-04-17		Presented to President.	sent to executive
2026-04-16	Senate	Message on Senate action sent to the House.
2026-04-16	Senate	Passed Senate without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 50 - 49. Record Vote Number: 84.
2026-04-16		Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 50 - 49. Record Vote Number: 84.	floor pass
2026-04-16	Senate	Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S1807-1812)
2026-04-15	Senate	Measure laid before Senate by motion.
2026-04-15	Senate	Motion to proceed to consideration of measure agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 51 - 49. Record Vote Number: 83. (CR S1790)
2026-04-15	Senate	Motion to table the point of order that the measure is not entitled to expedited procedures under the Congressional Review Act agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 51 - 48. Record Vote Number: 82.
2026-04-15	Senate	Point of order that the measure is not entitled to expedited procedures under the Congressional Review Act raised in Senate. (CR S1780)
2026-04-15	Senate	Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (consideration: CR S1779-1780)
2026-01-26	Senate	Received in the Senate, read twice.	refer
2026-01-21	House	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2026-01-21	House	On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 214 - 208 (Roll no. 38). (text: CR H1147)
2026-01-21		Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 214 - 208 (Roll no. 38). (text: CR H1147)	floor pass
2026-01-21	House	Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1156-1157)
2026-01-21	House	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.J. Res. 140, the Chair put the question on passage of the joint resolution and by voice vote, announced the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Huffman demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
2026-01-21	House	The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
2026-01-21	House	DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.J. Res. 140.
2026-01-21	House	Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 6945, H.R. 6359 and H.J. Res. 140. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 6945, H.R. 6359, and H.J. Res. 140 under a closed rule with one hour of general debate and one motion to recommit on each measure.
2026-01-21	House	Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1009. (consideration: CR H1147-1155)
2026-01-21	House	Rule H. Res. 1009 passed House.
2026-01-20	House	Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1009 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 6945, H.R. 6359 and H.J. Res. 140. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 6945, H.R. 6359, and H.J. Res. 140 under a closed rule with one hour of general debate and one motion to recommit on each measure.
2026-01-12	House	Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.	refer
2026-01-12		Introduced in House	introduce
2026-01-12		Introduced in House	introduce

Summary

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Action history