A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management relating to "Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan".

S.J. Res. 109 was introduced on March 4, 2026 by Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) as a Congressional Review Act (CRA) joint resolution to disapprove the Bureau of Land Management's Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan for the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Under the CRA, if both chambers pass this resolution and the President signs it, the BLM rule is nullified and the agency is barred from issuing a substantially similar rule in the future. The bill was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources — the standard first step. It has one cosponsor and a companion bill (H.J. Res. 151) in the House. No additional hearings, markups, or floor votes have occurred. The legislative path is arduous: with a narrow Senate majority, CRA resolutions require 51 votes plus the Vice President, and must overcome a potential filibuster unless budget reconciliation is used (unlikely for land-use CRA). The bill is in 'early stage' with low forward momentum.

The money trail here is entirely regulatory — the bill authorizes no spending. Its market impact operates through deregulation: removing a BLM rule that restricts mineral and energy development on approximately 1.87 million acres in southern Utah. If enacted, the BLM would be forced to accept new mining claims, oil and gas leases, and development plans that were previously barred or restricted by the monument's land-use plan. This directly benefits companies holding existing leases in the area and any company seeking new exploration acreage. The primary beneficiaries are energy and mining companies with regional exposure.

Two Executive Orders signed on April 20, 2026 directly amplify this legislative push: the Presidential Determination on Domestic Petroleum Production, Refining, and Logistics Capacity (specifically cites , $CVX among others) and the Presidential Determination on Coal Supply Chains and Baseload Power Generation. These orders invoke the Defense Production Act to accelerate permitting and financing for domestic resource development. S.J. Res. 109, if passed, would be the legislative complement — removing the BLM's regulatory 'off-switch' on 1.87 million acres that sit squarely in the same production region targeted by the DPA orders. The executive actions provide the 'why' (national security rationale for domestic production), while the bill provides the 'how' (cancel the rule blocking specific federal lands). Together, they create a coherent policy vector: more federal land available for energy and mineral development, backed by DPA financing tools.

Real market data confirms the energy sector is already pricing in policy tailwinds, but also broader macro drag. closed at $150.56 on April 28, up 0.71% in the 7-day window but down 11.95% over 30 days — reflecting oil price weakness (likely tariff-driven demand fears) overwhelmed by sector-specific bullish signals. $FCX closed at $58.21 on April 28, down 17.27% over 7 days and up 3.5% over 30 days — the sharp 7-day decline suggests a copper price selloff or sector rotation rather than policy-driven movement. The bill itself is not yet moving these stocks; its signal is too early-stage and low-probability. However, the aggregate policy picture (CRA bill + companion house bill + four DPA executive orders + coal DPA order) is structurally bullish for domestic energy and mining equities regardless of this bill's individual passage odds.