Bill Sponsor
House Bill 6409
119th Congress(2025-2026)
FENCES Act
Active
Active
Passed House on Apr 16, 2026
Overview
Text
Bill Intelligence

The bill, known as the "Foreign Emissions and Nonattainment Clarification for Economic Stability Act" or "FENCES Act," amends the Clean Air Act to address emissions originating from outside the United States. It provides clarifications on which emissions are covered and outlines the designation process for nonattainment areas. Additionally, it introduces a new section regarding the applicability of sanctions and fees in nonattainment areas, specifying circumstances where certain sanctions or fees shall not apply if the state demonstrates that emissions from outside the area are beyond their control. This bill aims to address the impact of foreign-originating emissions on nonattainment areas within the United States and the associated regulatory measures.

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Introduced
Dec 3, 2025
Latest Action
Apr 16, 2026
Origin Chamber
House
Type
Bill
Bill
The primary form of legislative measure used to propose law. Depending on the chamber of origin, bills begin with a designation of either H.R. or S. Joint resolution is another form of legislative measure used to propose law.
Bill Number
6409
Congress
119
Policy Area
Environmental Protection
Environmental Protection
Primary focus of measure is regulation of pollution including from hazardous substances and radioactive releases; climate change and greenhouse gases; environmental assessment and research; solid waste and recycling; ecology. Measures concerning energy exploration, efficiency, and conservation may fall under Energy policy area.
Sponsorship by Party
House Votes (2)
Senate Votes (0)
Question
On Passage
Status
Passed
Type
Roll Call Vote
Roll Call Vote
A vote that records the individual position of each Member who voted. Such votes occurring on the House floor (by the "yeas and nays" or by "recorded vote") are taken by electronic device. The Senate has no electronic voting system; in such votes, Senators answer "yea" or "nay" as the clerk calls each name aloud. Each vote is compiled by clerks and receives a roll call number (referenced in Congress.gov as a "Record Vote" [Senate] or "Roll no." [House]).
Roll Call Type
Yea-And-Nay
Roll Number
116
House Roll Call Votes
Yes
Alabama
Alabama
Yes
Alabama
Alabama
Yes
Alabama
Alabama
Yes
Alabama
Alabama
Yes
Alabama
Alabama
Alabama
No
Alabama
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arizona
Yes
Arizona
Arizona
Arizona
Yes
Arizona
Arizona
No
Arizona
Arizona
Yes
Arizona
Arizona
Didn't Vote
Arizona
Arizona
Arizona
Yes
Arkansas
Arkansas
Yes
Arkansas
Arkansas
Yes
Arkansas
Arkansas
Yes
Arkansas
Arkansas
Yes
California
California
No
California
California
No
California
California
Yes
California
California
No
California
California
Yes
California
California
No
California
California
No
California
California
No
California
California
No
California
California
No
California
California
Yes
California
California
Yes
California
California
No
California
California
No
California
California
No
California
California
No
California
California
No
California
California
No
California
California
No
California
California
Yes
California
California
Yes
California
California
No
California
California
No
California
California
No
California
California
No
California
California
No
California
California
No
California
California
No
California
California
No
California
California
No
California
California
No
California
California
No
California
California
No
California
California
California
No
California
California
No
California
California
No
California
California
No
California
California
No
California
California
No
California
California
No
California
California
No
California
California
No
California
California
California
No
California
California
Yes
California
California
Yes
California
California
Yes
California
California
No
California
California
Colorado
No
Colorado
Colorado
Yes
Colorado
Colorado
No
Colorado
Colorado
Yes
Colorado
Colorado
Yes
Colorado
Colorado
No
Colorado
Colorado
Yes
Colorado
Colorado
No
Connecticut
Connecticut
No
Connecticut
Connecticut
No
Connecticut
Connecticut
No
Connecticut
Connecticut
No
Connecticut
Connecticut
No
Delaware
Delaware
Yes
Florida
Florida
Florida
Yes
Florida
Florida
Yes
Florida
Florida
Florida
Yes
Florida
Florida
Yes
Florida
Florida
No
Florida
Florida
Florida
Florida
Yes
Florida
Florida
Yes
Florida
Florida
Florida
Yes
Florida
Florida
Yes
Florida
Florida
Yes
Florida
Florida
No
Florida
Florida
Yes
Florida
Florida
No
Florida
Florida
Florida
Florida
No
Florida
Florida
Florida
Yes
Florida
Florida
Yes
Florida
Florida
Yes
Florida
Florida
Yes
Florida
Florida
Yes
Georgia
Georgia
Yes
Georgia
Georgia
Georgia
Yes
Georgia
Georgia
Yes
Georgia
Georgia
Yes
Georgia
Georgia
No
Georgia
Georgia
No
Georgia
Georgia
No
Georgia
Georgia
Yes
Georgia
Georgia
Georgia
Georgia
Yes
Georgia
Georgia
Georgia
No
Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii
Yes
Idaho
Idaho
Yes
Idaho
Idaho
No
Illinois
Illinois
No
Illinois
Illinois
No
Illinois
Illinois
Yes
Illinois
Illinois
Illinois
No
Illinois
Illinois
No
Illinois
Illinois
Illinois
Illinois
Illinois
Yes
Illinois
Illinois
Yes
Illinois
Illinois
No
Illinois
Illinois
No
Illinois
Illinois
Illinois
No
Illinois
Illinois
No
Illinois
Illinois
No
Indiana
Indiana
Yes
Indiana
Indiana
Indiana
Indiana
Yes
Indiana
Indiana
Yes
Indiana
Indiana
Indiana
Yes
Indiana
Indiana
Yes
Indiana
Indiana
Iowa
Iowa
Iowa
Yes
Kansas
Kansas
Yes
Kansas
Kansas
Kansas
Yes
Kansas
Kansas
Yes
Kentucky
Kentucky
Yes
Kentucky
Kentucky
Yes
Kentucky
Kentucky
Yes
Kentucky
Kentucky
No
Kentucky
Kentucky
Yes
Kentucky
Kentucky
Yes
Louisiana
Louisiana
No
Louisiana
Louisiana
Yes
Louisiana
Louisiana
Yes
Louisiana
Louisiana
Yes
Louisiana
Louisiana
No
Louisiana
Louisiana
Maine
Yes
Maine
Maine
Yes
Maryland
Maryland
Maryland
No
Maryland
Maryland
No
Maryland
Maryland
Maryland
No
Maryland
Maryland
No
Maryland
Maryland
No
Maryland
Maryland
No
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
No
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
No
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
No
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
No
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
No
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
No
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
No
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
No
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Yes
Michigan
Michigan
No
Michigan
Michigan
No
Michigan
Michigan
Michigan
Yes
Michigan
Michigan
Yes
Michigan
Michigan
Yes
Michigan
Michigan
Michigan
Yes
Michigan
Michigan
No
Michigan
Michigan
No
Michigan
Michigan
Yes
Michigan
Michigan
Yes
Michigan
Michigan
No
Minnesota
Minnesota
No
Minnesota
Minnesota
Yes
Minnesota
Minnesota
No
Minnesota
Minnesota
No
Minnesota
Minnesota
Yes
Minnesota
Minnesota
Yes
Minnesota
Minnesota
Yes
Minnesota
Minnesota
No
Mississippi
Mississippi
Yes
Mississippi
Mississippi
Yes
Mississippi
Mississippi
Yes
Mississippi
Mississippi
Yes
Missouri
Missouri
No
Missouri
Missouri
Yes
Missouri
Missouri
Yes
Missouri
Missouri
Yes
Missouri
Missouri
Yes
Missouri
Missouri
Yes
Missouri
Missouri
No
Missouri
Missouri
Yes
Montana
Montana
Yes
Montana
Montana
Yes
Nebraska
Nebraska
Yes
Nebraska
Nebraska
Yes
Nebraska
Nebraska
No
Nevada
Nevada
Yes
Nevada
Nevada
Nevada
No
Nevada
Nevada
No
New Hampshire
New Hampshire
No
New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Jersey
Yes
New Jersey
New Jersey
No
New Jersey
New Jersey
No
New Jersey
New Jersey
No
New Jersey
New Jersey
Yes
New Jersey
New Jersey
No
New Jersey
New Jersey
No
New Jersey
New Jersey
No
New Jersey
New Jersey
No
New Jersey
New Jersey
Didn't Vote
New Jersey
New Jersey
No
New Mexico
New Mexico
No
New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico
New York
New York
Yes
New York
New York
Yes
New York
New York
New York
Yes
New York
New York
No
New York
New York
No
New York
New York
No
New York
New York
No
New York
New York
No
New York
New York
No
New York
New York
No
New York
New York
No
New York
New York
No
New York
New York
Yes
New York
New York
New York
Yes
New York
New York
New York
No
New York
New York
No
New York
New York
No
New York
New York
No
New York
New York
No
New York
New York
No
New York
New York
No
New York
New York
Yes
North Carolina
North Carolina
No
North Carolina
North Carolina
Yes
North Carolina
North Carolina
Yes
North Carolina
North Carolina
Yes
North Carolina
North Carolina
No
North Carolina
North Carolina
Yes
North Carolina
North Carolina
Yes
North Carolina
North Carolina
Yes
North Carolina
North Carolina
Yes
North Carolina
North Carolina
Yes
North Carolina
North Carolina
Yes
North Carolina
North Carolina
No
North Carolina
North Carolina
Yes
North Carolina
North Carolina
Yes
North Dakota
North Dakota
Yes
Ohio
Ohio
Yes
Ohio
Ohio
Ohio
Ohio
Yes
Ohio
Ohio
Ohio
Ohio
Ohio
Ohio
Yes
Ohio
Ohio
Ohio
Ohio
Ohio
Ohio
Yes
Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Yes
Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Yes
Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Yes
Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Yes
Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oregon
Yes
Oregon
Oregon
Oregon
Oregon
Oregon
No
Oregon
Oregon
No
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
No
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
No
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
Yes
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
No
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
Yes
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
Yes
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
Yes
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
Yes
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
No
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
No
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
Yes
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
Yes
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
Yes
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
Yes
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
No
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
No
Rhode Island
Rhode Island
No
Rhode Island
Rhode Island
No
South Carolina
South Carolina
Yes
South Carolina
South Carolina
Didn't Vote
South Carolina
South Carolina
Yes
South Carolina
South Carolina
Yes
South Carolina
South Carolina
Yes
South Carolina
South Carolina
Yes
South Carolina
South Carolina
Yes
South Dakota
South Dakota
Yes
Tennessee
Tennessee
Yes
Tennessee
Tennessee
Yes
Tennessee
Tennessee
Yes
Tennessee
Tennessee
Yes
Tennessee
Tennessee
Yes
Tennessee
Tennessee
Yes
Tennessee
Tennessee
No
Tennessee
Tennessee
Yes
Tennessee
Tennessee
No
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Yes
Texas
Texas
Yes
Texas
Texas
Yes
Texas
Texas
Texas
Yes
Texas
Texas
No
Texas
Texas
Texas
Yes
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Yes
Texas
Texas
Texas
Yes
Texas
Texas
Yes
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Yes
Texas
Texas
Texas
Yes
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Yes
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Yes
Texas
Texas
Utah
Utah
Utah
Utah
No
Vermont
Vermont
Yes
Virginia
Virginia
No
Virginia
Virginia
No
Virginia
Virginia
Virginia
Virginia
Virginia
Virginia
Yes
Virginia
Virginia
Yes
Virginia
Virginia
Yes
Virginia
Virginia
Virginia
No
Washington
Washington
Yes
Washington
Washington
No
Washington
Washington
No
Washington
Washington
Washington
No
Washington
Washington
Yes
Washington
Washington
No
Washington
Washington
No
Washington
Washington
No
Washington
Washington
Yes
West Virginia
West Virginia
Yes
West Virginia
West Virginia
Yes
Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Yes
Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Yes
Wisconsin
Wisconsin
No
Wisconsin
Wisconsin
No
Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Yes
Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Yes
Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Yes
Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Summary

Foreign Emissions and Nonattainment Clarification for Economic Stability Act or the FENCES Act

This bill modifies standards under the Clean Air Act to exempt states from penalties for emissions outside of the state’s control.

The bill provides that certain nonattainment areas (i.e., those classified as severe or extreme for ozone or as serious for particulate matter) are not subject to sanctions for implementation plan deficiencies or for fees for failing to attain national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) if the state demonstrates it would have avoided deficiencies or attained its standards but for emissions outside of its control (e.g., emissions from an exceptional event like a wildfire). A state must renew its demonstration at least once every five years for exemption from the sanctions or fees to continue to apply.

The bill specifies that an area within a state may not be designated as a nonattainment area regarding any new or revised NAAQS for a pollutant if the state demonstrates it would be in attainment but for emissions emanating from outside of the country, regardless of whether the emissions resulted from human activity.

For purposes of approving a state implementation plan or meeting certain NAAQS, current law provides that a state may demonstrate to the Environmental Protection Agency that but for emissions emanating from outside of the country, it would have attained applicable NAAQS by the attainment date for certain pollutants. The bill specifies that such emissions emanating from outside the country may include emissions that result from human activity.

Text (3)
April 16, 2026
April 9, 2026
December 3, 2025
04/16/2026
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
04/16/2026
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 220 - 208 (Roll no. 116).
04/16/2026
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 220 - 208 (Roll no. 116).
04/16/2026
On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 213 - 215 (Roll no. 115).
04/16/2026
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2937-2938)
04/15/2026
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 6409, the Chair put the question on motion to recommit, and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Min demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
04/15/2026
The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX.
04/15/2026
Mr. Min moved to recommit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. (text: CR H2908-2909)
04/15/2026
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
04/15/2026
DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 6409.
04/15/2026
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 6387, H.R. 6398, H.R. 6409 and H. Res. 1156. The resolution provides for consideration of each measure under a closed rule with one hour of general debate on each measure. The resolution also provides one motion to recommit on H.R. 6387, H.R. 6398, and H.R. 6409.
04/15/2026
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1174. (consideration: CR H2902-2909; text: CR H2902-2903)
04/15/2026
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1174 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 6387, H.R. 6398, H.R. 6409 and H. Res. 1156. The resolution provides for consideration of each measure under a closed rule with one hour of general debate on each measure. The resolution also provides one motion to recommit on H.R. 6387, H.R. 6398, and H.R. 6409.
04/14/2026
Supplemental report filed by the Committee on Energy and Commerce, H. Rept. 119-594, Part II.
04/09/2026
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 514.
04/09/2026
Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 119-594.
01/21/2026
Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 25 - 22.
01/21/2026
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
12/10/2025
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by the Yeas and Nays: 14 - 11.
12/10/2025
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
12/03/2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment.
12/03/2025
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
12/03/2025
Introduced in House
Public Record
Record Updated
Apr 17, 2026 5:49:36 PM