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The House voted 220-207 to pass a resolution that prevents a new federal rule regarding bank mergers from taking effect. The vote fell almost entirely along party lines, with Republicans supporting the block.
This resolution (S.J.Res. 13) aims to overturn a regulation issued by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) concerning the Bank Merger Act. The rule in question established new procedures for how the government reviews applications when banks want to combine. By passing this resolution, Congress is effectively canceling those new guidelines and keeping the previous merger review process in place. This was a vote on "final passage," the last step for a resolution in this chamber. Because this is a "joint resolution of disapproval" under the Congressional Review Act, it allows Congress to stop a recently issued executive branch rule with a simple majority vote. Such resolutions are a primary tool for Congress to exercise oversight over federal agencies. The resolution passed the House and eventually became law. The outcome means the OCC cannot move forward with its new merger framework, and it is legally barred from issuing a "substantially similar" rule in the future without new authorization from Congress. The vote was highly partisan, with nearly all Republicans voting in favor and nearly all Democrats voting against.
Following this House passage, the resolution was sent to the President and was signed into law on June 20, 2025.
OPEN BILL →Why it matters. Bank mergers significantly reshape the financial landscape, affecting competition and consumer choice. This vote ensures that the previous, more established standards for evaluating bank mergers remain in place rather than new guidelines proposed by the OCC.
Who’s affected. Banks and Financial Institutions: Institutions seeking to merge will continue to follow existing regulatory procedures rather than the new framework that Congress has now blocked. · Bank Customers: The structure of local banking—including branch locations and available services—will be governed by the older merger review standards.
Democrats. The Democratic caucus overwhelmingly opposed the resolution, with 207 members voting to keep the new bank merger rules in place.
Republicans. The Republican caucus was perfectly united among those voting, with all 218 members supporting the resolution to overturn the executive branch rule.
On Passage
May 20, 2025
The House voted 220-207 to pass a resolution that prevents a new federal rule regarding bank mergers from taking effect.
The vote fell almost entirely along party lines, with Republicans supporting the block.
This is a vote on final passage in the House. Under the Congressional Review Act, Congress can pass a joint resolution to overturn a specific regulation issued by a federal agency, provided it passes both chambers and is signed by the President.
Following this House passage, the resolution was sent to the President and was signed into law on June 20, 2025.
Bank mergers significantly reshape the financial landscape, affecting competition and consumer choice. This vote ensures that the previous, more established standards for evaluating bank mergers remain in place rather than new guidelines proposed by the OCC.
The vote was a strict party-line split, with Republicans voting unanimously to block the regulation and Democrats almost entirely united in opposition.
The Democratic caucus overwhelmingly opposed the resolution, with 207 members voting to keep the new bank merger rules in place.
The Republican caucus was perfectly united among those voting, with all 218 members supporting the resolution to overturn the executive branch rule.
The single independent member joined the Republicans in voting to pass the resolution.