The bill
FENCES Act
HR. 6409, 119th Congress β read as touching Oil & Gas.
Sponsored by
Rep. Pfluger, August [R-TX-11]
ID: P000048
Follow the money
The bill
HR. 6409, 119th Congress β read as touching Oil & Gas.
The sponsor
Every bill has someone who introduced it. That name is where the paper trail starts.
The money
23 itemised contributions to this sponsor, pulled from FEC filings.
Track this bill's progress through the legislative process
Latest Action
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
April 16, 2026
π Current Status
Next: Both chambers must agree on the same version of the bill.
1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.
2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.
3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.
4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.
5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.
6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.
7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!
Another masterpiece of legislative theater, courtesy of the geniuses in Congress. The FENCES Act, a bill so cleverly named it's almost as if they want us to think they're trying to keep something out - or perhaps just keeping the truth fenced in.
Let's dissect this mess, shall we? The bill amends the Clean Air Act to "clarify" standards for emissions emanating from outside the United States. Because, you know, it's not like our own industries are responsible for polluting our air; it's clearly those pesky foreigners and their emissions that are the real problem. This is a classic case of "emission-itis," where politicians try to shift the blame to external factors rather than addressing the root cause of the disease.
The new regulations created by this bill are a perfect example of "regulatory rheumatism" - they're stiff, outdated, and only serve to further entrench the interests of polluters. The affected industries, of course, will be thrilled to have more loopholes to exploit. The fossil fuel industry, in particular, will be doing the "emissions evasion dance," where they pretend to comply with regulations while actually finding new ways to circumvent them.
Compliance requirements and timelines? Ha! This bill is a masterclass in "compliance constipation" - it's all about delaying and deferring actual action. States can now claim that emissions from outside the country (or even from natural disasters) are the reason they're not meeting air quality standards, and thus avoid sanctions and fees. It's like saying, "I'm not responsible for my own pollution; it's someone else's fault!" This is a textbook case of "polluter's paralysis," where industries use every excuse in the book to avoid taking responsibility for their actions.
The enforcement mechanisms and penalties? Don't make me laugh. The bill explicitly states that even if a state demonstrates that they would have met air quality standards but for external emissions, they're still required to implement measures to reduce pollution. But what's the incentive to actually do so when they can just blame someone else and avoid consequences? This is a classic case of "regulatory rigor mortis" - the regulations are dead on arrival, and everyone knows it.
The economic and operational impacts? Well, let's just say that this bill is a "gift" to polluters. By allowing states to shift the blame for their own emissions, industries can continue to operate with impunity, all while pretending to care about air quality. It's a win-win for them: they get to keep polluting and avoid paying fines. The rest of us, however, will be left breathing in the toxic fumes of their greed.
In conclusion, the FENCES Act is a farce, a sham, a travesty. It's a bill designed to protect polluters, not the environment or public health. So, to all the politicians and lobbyists involved in crafting this monstrosity
Rep. Pfluger, August [R-TX-11]
Congress 119 β’ 2024 Election Cycle
No PAC contributions found
No committee contributions found
This bill has 2 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.
ID: C001120
Top Contributors
10
ID: C001137
Top Contributors
10
Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.
Showing 49 nodes and 29 connections (54 secondary connections hidden)
Total contributions: $124,835
Showing top 16 donors by contribution amount
Which industries are materially affected by specific provisions in this bill. 3 helped.
Section 2(c) adds a new section 179C that exempts states from sanctions/fees for nonattainment if emissions are from outside the U.S. or beyond state control, reducing regulatory burden on oil & gas operations that contribute to ozone/particulate pollution.
Same as oil_gas: the exemption from sanctions/fees for ozone/particulate nonattainment due to foreign or uncontrollable emissions lessens compliance pressure on coal mining, a source of particulate matter.
Electric utilities, especially those relying on fossil fuels, face sanctions for ozone/particulate nonattainment; the bill's exemption reduces liability when emissions are deemed beyond state control.
For each industry this bill affects, here's what the sponsor (Rep. Pfluger, August [R-TX-11])received from donors associated with that industry during the 2022βpresent cycles. Donations are not proof of intent β they are a record of who funds the people writing the law.
Mystic Alerts Act
119/hr/7022
DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern Act
119/hr/881
To prohibit individuals who are not citizens of the United States from voting in elections in the District of Columbia and to repeal the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022.
119/hr/884
Tradeable Energy Performance Standards Act
Fire Safe Electrical Corridors Act of 2025
Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Energy relating to "Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Walk-In Coolers and Walk-In Freezers".