Summary — SJRES 7 (2025)

Title: A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Federal Communications Commission relating to "Addressing the Homework Gap Through the E-Rate Program" (89 Fed. Reg. 67303 (August 20, 2024))

Purpose

SJRES 7 is a Congressional Review Act (CRA) joint resolution that seeks to nullify a specific Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rule titled “Addressing the Homework Gap Through the E‑Rate Program” (89 Fed. Reg. 67303, Aug. 20, 2024). The resolution states that the identified FCC rule “shall have no force or effect.”

Key provisions

• Expresses Congress’s disapproval of the FCC rule referenced above.
• If enacted (passage by both chambers and signature by the President, or an override of a veto), the resolution would eliminate the legal effect of that FCC rule.
• Under the CRA framework, successful disapproval also generally prevents the agency from issuing a new rule that is “substantially the same” unless Congress specifically authorizes it by law.

Who would be affected

• Federal agencies: The FCC would be barred from enforcing or implementing the specific rule and would face limits on reissuing a substantially similar rule absent new statutory authorization.
• States, school districts, public libraries, and other E‑Rate program beneficiaries: Any changes to how E‑Rate funds could be used to address the “homework gap” (e.g., off‑campus or home internet connectivity for students) that were authorized by the FCC rule would be reversed, returning program implementation to the prior regulatory baseline.
• Service providers and vendors that anticipated or relied on rule-based program changes would be affected by the loss of that regulatory basis for funding or program expansion.

Procedural history and timeline

• Introduced in the Senate: Jan 27, 2025; read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
• Committee discharged by petition under 5 U.S.C. 802(c): Mar 5, 2025; placed on Senate Legislative Calendar (Calendar No. 24).
• Senate consideration: Motion to proceed agreed to (May 6, 2025, 53–47). Passed the Senate without amendment (May 8, 2025) by a yea‑nay vote of 50–38 (Record Vote No. 238).
• Message sent to the House: May 8, 2025; received in the House May 9, 2025. Status: Held at the desk (as of May 9, 2025).
• Companion bill in the House: HJRES 33.

Sponsors

Primary sponsor: Sen. Ted Cruz. Multiple Republican cosponsors including Jerry Moran, Deb Fischer, John Thune, James Lankford, Shelley Moore Capito, and others.

Potential impact

If ultimately enacted, SJRES 7 would halt implementation of the FCC’s rule aimed at addressing the “homework gap” through the E‑Rate program, preserving the regulatory status prior to the August 20, 2024 rule. This would affect how (and whether) E‑Rate funds could be used for off‑campus or home broadband access for students, with downstream effects on school policies, funding allocations, and vendor contracts. Enactment requires House passage and the President’s signature (or a veto override); otherwise the rule remains in force.