A Day in the House: Key Takeaways from February 12, 2025

On February 12, 2025, the U.S. House of Representatives had a full legislative day, engaging in debates, votes, and procedural actions. The most notable development was the passage of H.R. 77, a bill designed to change how Congress reviews last-minute regulations issued by outgoing presidential administrations. Here’s a breakdown of the day’s key moments:

Morning Session: Setting the Tone

The House convened at 10:00 AM, with Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks presiding as Speaker pro tempore. After the Pledge of Allegiance, a morning-hour debate allowed members to make speeches on various issues before the main legislative business began.

At 12:05 PM, the House Chaplain, Margaret Grun Kibben, delivered the daily prayer, and the House formally approved its journal. The session then moved into one-minute speeches, where representatives took turns delivering brief remarks on issues of importance to them and their constituents.

The Main Legislative Event: H.R. 77

The centerpiece of the day’s proceedings was H.R. 77, a bill aimed at changing how Congress handles “midnight rules.” Midnight rules refer to regulations that a presidential administration rushes through in its final months in office, often without full scrutiny.

Currently, Congress can overturn these rules one at a time, which can be a slow and inefficient process. H.R. 77 proposes a change: instead of reviewing midnight rules individually, lawmakers would be able to reject multiple regulations all at once (en bloc). This is intended to make it easier for a new administration and Congress to undo last-minute policy changes made by a departing administration.

The bill was hotly debated, with supporters arguing that it ensures accountability and prevents last-minute policy shifts from taking effect without proper oversight. Opponents, however, raised concerns that bundling multiple regulations together could make it harder to evaluate them fairly.

After an hour of debate, the bill passed narrowly by a vote of 212-208, with a motion to reconsider being laid on the table. A prior attempt to send the bill back to committee (a motion to recommit) had failed by a vote of 205-213.

Evening Session: Wrapping Up the Day

Following the legislative business, the House moved into special order speeches, where members had additional time to speak on issues of their choosing. These speeches continued for about an hour before Rep. Glenn Grothman moved to adjourn.

At 6:39 PM, the House officially adjourned, setting its next meeting for 9:00 AM on February 13, 2025.

What’s Next?

Now that H.R. 77 has passed the House, it will move to the Senate, where it will face further debate and a potential vote. If approved by the Senate, it will then head to the President’s desk for signature or veto.

This legislation, if enacted, could have a significant impact on how regulatory changes are handled during presidential transitions. It reflects an ongoing effort by Congress to assert more control over executive actions, particularly those made in the final stretch of an administration.

Stay tuned for further developments as the debate over midnight rules continues.