House rejects a motion to send the FENCES Act back to committee
On Motion to Recommit
APR 16, 2026 · 12:13 PM ET
A party-line vote. 2 votes short of the 215 needed.
Since 2021 this motion can't change the bill, so it's mostly symbolic.
MOTION TO RECOMMIT →Since 2021 this motion can't change the bill, so it's mostly symbolic.
MOTION TO RECOMMIT →What the House was voting on
The FENCES Act, officially known as H.R. 6409, focuses on how the government measures air quality across the country. Currently, if air pollution reaches certain levels, states can face federal penalties or be forced to implement expensive new regulations. This bill would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ignore pollution spikes that are caused by 'exceptional events' or international sources. This means if a state has dirty air because of a natural disaster like a wildfire or because wind is blowing smog across a national border, the state won't be punished for it as long as they are still trying to manage their own local pollution.
Send the FENCES Act back to committee.
Keep the bill on the floor for a final vote.
Allows certain air-quality penalties and nonattainment designations to account for pollution beyond a state’s control.
Passed the House 220–208 on April 16, 2026. Now waiting in the Senate, 310 days after it was introduced.
- TIES
- A tie fails in the House: a majority means more yeas than nays.
215 is a majority of the 428 members voting yes or no. Members voting “present” or absent don’t count.
- TIES
- A tie fails in the House: a majority means more yeas than nays.
A straight party-line voteStraight party line.
Every vote on H.R. 6409, in both chambersEvery vote on H.R. 6409
- APR 9Reported by Energy and CommerceREPORTED25–22
- APR 15#111Previous question on the rule (H.Res. 1174)AGREED TO212–211
- APR 15#112On the rule (H.Res. 1174)AGREED TO214–212
- APR 16#115THIS VOTEMotion to recommitFAILED213–2152 votes short of the 215 needed.
- APR 16#116On passagePASSED220–2086 Democrats voted yes
Coverage of this vote and its bill7 stories from 5 outlets
- Kill the NewsletterChairman Guthrie Delivers Floor Remarks on Permitting Reform Bills
- Hill HeatThe Week in Climate Hearings: Carbon Summer and Nuclear Winter
- DailyfreemanHow they voted: Ryan, Riley on Iran war, pollution exemptions
- Common DreamsLEFTWestern Groups Warn Democrats: 'No Deal With Devil on Permit Reform'
- OaoaPfluger continues to lead the charge for much-needed permitting reform
- Kill the NewsletterChairman Palmer Delivers Opening Statement at Rules Committee Hearing on Permitting Reform Legislation
- Hill HeatThe Week in Climate Hearings: Carbon Summer and Nuclear Winter
Lean describes the outlets, not the vote.
