Union Calendar No. 61
118th CONGRESS 1st Session |
[Report No. 118–84, Part I]
To amend chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, to provide that major rules of the executive branch shall have no force or effect unless a joint resolution of approval is enacted into law.
January 11, 2023
Mrs. Cammack (for herself, Mr. Jordan, Mr. Comer, Mr. Emmer, Mr. Fulcher, Mr. Dunn of Florida, Mr. Finstad, Mr. Lamborn, Mr. Carl, Mrs. Miller of Illinois, Mr. Bucshon, Mr. Joyce of Pennsylvania, Mr. Reschenthaler, Mr. Buchanan, Mr. Obernolte, Mr. Jackson of Texas, Mr. Mooney, Ms. Granger, Mr. Newhouse, Mr. Gimenez, Mrs. Lesko, Mr. Williams of Texas, Mr. Massie, Mr. Austin Scott of Georgia, Mr. LaTurner, Mr. Clyde, Mr. Graves of Louisiana, Mrs. Hinson, Mrs. Rodgers of Washington, Mr. Crenshaw, Mrs. Miller-Meeks, Mr. Smith of Nebraska, Mr. Arrington, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Perry, Mr. LaMalfa, Mr. Bentz, Mr. Armstrong, Mr. Johnson of Louisiana, Mr. Cloud, Mr. Garbarino, Mr. Banks, Mr. Tiffany, Mr. Burchett, Mr. Norman, Mr. Roy, Mr. Owens, Mr. Issa, Mr. Rutherford, Mr. Carter of Georgia, Mr. Burgess, Mr. Kelly of Mississippi, Mr. Palmer, Mr. Weber of Texas, Mr. Walberg, Mr. Barr, Mr. Moore of Utah, Mr. Loudermilk, Mr. C. Scott Franklin of Florida, Ms. Mace, Mrs. McClain, Mr. Balderson, Mrs. Steel, Mr. Biggs, Ms. Greene of Georgia, Mr. Bilirakis, Mr. Duncan, Mr. Bost, Mr. Feenstra, Mrs. Spartz, Mr. Babin, Mr. Wittman, Mr. Steube, Mr. Stewart, Mr. Smucker, Mrs. Boebert, Mr. Hudson, Mr. Buck, Mrs. Bice, Mrs. Fischbach, Mr. Fallon, Mr. Steil, Mr. Mann, Mr. Rogers of Alabama, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Donalds, Mr. Posey, Mr. Johnson of South Dakota, Mr. Wilson of South Carolina, Mr. Nehls, Mr. Baird, Mr. Pfluger, Mr. Bishop of North Carolina, Mr. Wenstrup, Mr. Hern, Ms. Tenney, Mr. Cline, Mr. Moore of Alabama, Mr. Van Drew, Mr. McClintock, Mr. Green of Tennessee, Mr. Fitzgerald, Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania, Mr. Mast, Mr. Rosendale, Mr. Davidson, Mr. Gaetz, Mr. Gooden of Texas, Ms. Van Duyne, Mr. Bergman, Mr. Mike Garcia of California, Mr. Allen, Ms. De La Cruz, Mr. Valadao, Mr. Zinke, Mr. McCaul, Mr. DesJarlais, Mr. Nunn of Iowa, Mr. Huizenga, Mr. Timmons, Mr. Collins, Mr. Lawler, Mr. Smith of Missouri, Mrs. Luna, Mr. Tony Gonzales of Texas, Mr. Westerman, Mr. Ferguson, Mrs. González-Colón, Mrs. Chavez-DeRemer, Mr. James, Mr. Estes, Mr. Crawford, Mr. McHenry, Ms. Lee of Florida, Mr. Harris, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Langworthy, Mr. Meuser, Ms. Salazar, Mr. Diaz-Balart, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Ciscomani, Mr. Moran, Mr. Pence, Mr. Brecheen, Mr. Hill, Mr. Ezell, Mrs. Houchin, Mr. McCormick, Mr. Luttrell, Mr. Alford, Mr. Johnson of Ohio, Mr. Rouzer, Mr. Burlison, Mr. Ellzey, Mr. Webster of Florida, Ms. Hageman, Mr. Bean of Florida, Mr. Higgins of Louisiana, Mrs. Miller of West Virginia, Mr. Gallagher, Mr. Griffith, Mr. Good of Virginia, Mr. Miller of Ohio, Mr. Mills, Mr. Lucas, Mr. Fleischmann, Mr. Moolenaar, Mr. LaHood, Ms. Foxx, Mr. Rogers of Kentucky, Mr. Flood, Mr. Grothman, Mr. Van Orden, and Mr. Guest) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Rules, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
June 1, 2023
Additional sponsors: Mr. Yakym, Mr. Luetkemeyer, Mr. Self, Mr. Scalise, Mr. Guthrie, Mr. Ogles, Mr. Santos, and Mr. Rose
June 1, 2023
Reported from the Committee on the Judiciary with an amendment
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic]
June 1, 2023
Committees on Rules and the Budget discharged; committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on January 11, 2023]
To amend chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, to provide that major rules of the executive branch shall have no force or effect unless a joint resolution of approval is enacted into law.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
This Act may be cited as the “Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2023” or the “REINS Act of 2023”.
The purpose of this Act is to increase accountability for and transparency in the Federal regulatory process. Section 1 of article I of the United States Constitution grants all legislative powers to Congress. Over time, Congress has excessively delegated its constitutional charge while failing to conduct appropriate oversight and retain accountability for the content of the laws it passes. By requiring a vote in Congress, the REINS Act will result in more carefully drafted and detailed legislation, an improved regulatory process, and a legislative branch that is truly accountable to the American people for the laws imposed upon them.
SEC. 3. Congressional review of agency rulemaking.
Chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
“Sec.
“801. Congressional review.
“802. Congressional approval procedure for major rules.
“803. Congressional disapproval procedure for nonmajor rules.
“804. Definitions.
“805. Judicial review.
“806. Exemption for monetary policy.
“807. Effective date of certain rules.
“(a) (1) (A) Before a rule may take effect, the Federal agency promulgating such rule shall publish in the Federal Register a list of information on which the rule is based, including data, scientific and economic studies, and cost-benefit analyses, and identify how the public can access such information online, and shall submit to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General a report containing—
“(iii) a classification of the rule as a major or nonmajor rule, including an explanation of the classification specifically addressing each criteria for a major rule contained within subparagraphs (A) through (C) of section 804(2);
“(iv) a list of any other related regulatory actions intended to implement the same statutory provision or regulatory objective as well as the individual and aggregate economic effects of those actions; and
“(B) On the date of the submission of the report under subparagraph (A), the Federal agency promulgating the rule shall submit to the Comptroller General and make available to each House of Congress—
“(i) a complete copy of the cost-benefit analysis of the rule, if any, including an analysis of any jobs added or lost, differentiating between public and private sector jobs;
“(C) Upon receipt of a report submitted under subparagraph (A), each House shall provide copies of the report to the chairman and ranking member of each standing committee with jurisdiction under the rules of the House of Representatives or the Senate to report a bill to amend the provision of law under which the rule is issued.
“(2) (A) The Comptroller General shall provide a report on each major rule to the committees of jurisdiction by the end of 15 calendar days after the submission or publication date. The report of the Comptroller General shall include an assessment of the agency’s compliance with procedural steps required by paragraph (1)(B) and an assessment of whether the major rule imposes any new limits or mandates on private-sector activity.
“(3) A major rule relating to a report submitted under paragraph (1) shall take effect upon enactment of a joint resolution of approval described in section 802 or as provided for in the rule following enactment of a joint resolution of approval described in section 802, whichever is later.
“(4) A nonmajor rule shall take effect as provided by section 803 after submission to Congress under paragraph (1).
“(5) If a joint resolution of approval relating to a major rule is not enacted within the period provided in subsection (b)(2), then a joint resolution of approval relating to the same rule may not be considered under this chapter in the same Congress by either the House of Representatives or the Senate.
“(b) (1) A major rule shall not take effect unless the Congress enacts a joint resolution of approval described under section 802.
“(2) If a joint resolution described in subsection (a) is not enacted into law by the end of 70 session days or legislative days, as applicable, beginning on the date on which the report referred to in subsection (a)(1)(A) is received by Congress (excluding days either House of Congress is adjourned for more than 3 days during a session of Congress), then the rule described in that resolution shall be deemed not to be approved and such rule shall not take effect.
“(c) (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section (except subject to paragraph (3)), a major rule may take effect for one 90-calendar-day period if the President makes a determination under paragraph (2) and submits written notice of such determination to the Congress.
“(d) (1) In addition to the opportunity for review otherwise provided under this chapter, in the case of any rule for which a report was submitted in accordance with subsection (a)(1)(A) during the period beginning on the date occurring—
before the date the Congress is scheduled to adjourn a session of Congress through the date on which the same or succeeding Congress first convenes its next session, sections 802 and 803 shall apply to such rule in the succeeding session of Congress.
Ҥ 802. Congressional approval procedure for major rules
“(a) (1) For purposes of this section, the term ‘joint resolution’ means only a joint resolution addressing a report classifying a rule as major pursuant to section 801(a)(1)(A)(iii) that—
“(B) bears the following title (with blanks filled as appropriate): ‘Approving the rule submitted by ___ relating to ___.’;
“(C) includes after its resolving clause only the following (with blanks filled as appropriate): ‘That Congress approves the rule submitted by ___ relating to ___.’; and
“(b) A joint resolution described in subsection (a) shall be referred in each House of Congress to the committees having jurisdiction over the provision of law under which the rule is issued.
“(c) In the Senate, if the committee or committees to which a joint resolution described in subsection (a) has been referred have not reported it at the end of 15 session days after its introduction, such committee or committees shall be automatically discharged from further consideration of the resolution and it shall be placed on the calendar. A vote on final passage of the resolution shall be taken on or before the close of the 15th session day after the resolution is reported by the committee or committees to which it was referred, or after such committee or committees have been discharged from further consideration of the resolution.
“(d) (1) In the Senate, when the committee or committees to which a joint resolution is referred have reported, or when a committee or committees are discharged (under subsection (c)) from further consideration of a joint resolution described in subsection (a), it is at any time thereafter in order (even though a previous motion to the same effect has been disagreed to) for a motion to proceed to the consideration of the joint resolution, and all points of order against the joint resolution (and against consideration of the joint resolution) are waived. The motion is not subject to amendment, or to a motion to postpone, or to a motion to proceed to the consideration of other business. A motion to reconsider the vote by which the motion is agreed to or disagreed to shall not be in order. If a motion to proceed to the consideration of the joint resolution is agreed to, the joint resolution shall remain the unfinished business of the Senate until disposed of.
“(2) In the Senate, debate on the joint resolution, and on all debatable motions and appeals in connection therewith, shall be limited to not more than 2 hours, which shall be divided equally between those favoring and those opposing the joint resolution. A motion to further limit debate is in order and not debatable. An amendment to, or a motion to postpone, or a motion to proceed to the consideration of other business, or a motion to recommit the joint resolution is not in order.
“(e) In the House of Representatives, if any committee to which a joint resolution described in subsection (a) has been referred has not reported it to the House at the end of 15 legislative days after its introduction, such committee shall be discharged from further consideration of the joint resolution, and it shall be placed on the appropriate calendar. On the second and fourth Thursdays of each month it shall be in order at any time for the Speaker to recognize a Member who favors passage of a joint resolution that has appeared on the calendar for at least 5 legislative days to call up that joint resolution for immediate consideration in the House without intervention of any point of order. When so called up a joint resolution shall be considered as read and shall be debatable for 1 hour equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, and the previous question shall be considered as ordered to its passage without intervening motion. It shall not be in order to reconsider the vote on passage. If a vote on final passage of the joint resolution has not been taken by the third Thursday on which the Speaker may recognize a Member under this subsection, such vote shall be taken on that day.
“(f) (1) If, before passing a joint resolution described in subsection (a), one House receives from the other a joint resolution having the same text, then—
“(g) If either House has not taken a vote on final passage of the joint resolution by the last day of the period described in section 801(b)(2), then such vote shall be taken on that day.
“(h) This section and section 803 are enacted by Congress—
“(1) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the Senate and House of Representatives, respectively, and as such are deemed to be part of the rules of each House, respectively, but applicable only with respect to the procedure to be followed in that House in the case of a joint resolution described in subsection (a) and superseding other rules only where explicitly so; and
Ҥ 803. Congressional disapproval procedure for nonmajor rules
“(a) For purposes of this section, the term ‘joint resolution’ means only a joint resolution introduced in the period beginning on the date on which the report referred to in section 801(a)(1)(A) is received by Congress and ending 60 days thereafter (excluding days either House of Congress is adjourned for more than 3 days during a session of Congress), the matter after the resolving clause of which is as follows: ‘That Congress disapproves the nonmajor rule submitted by the ___ relating to ___ , and such rule shall have no force or effect.’ (The blank spaces being appropriately filled in).
“(b) A joint resolution described in subsection (a) shall be referred to the committees in each House of Congress with jurisdiction.
“(c) In the Senate, if the committee to which is referred a joint resolution described in subsection (a) has not reported such joint resolution (or an identical joint resolution) at the end of 15 session days after the date of introduction of the joint resolution, such committee may be discharged from further consideration of such joint resolution upon a petition supported in writing by 30 Members of the Senate, and such joint resolution shall be placed on the calendar.
“(d) (1) In the Senate, when the committee to which a joint resolution is referred has reported, or when a committee is discharged (under subsection (c)) from further consideration of a joint resolution described in subsection (a), it is at any time thereafter in order (even though a previous motion to the same effect has been disagreed to) for a motion to proceed to the consideration of the joint resolution, and all points of order against the joint resolution (and against consideration of the joint resolution) are waived. The motion is not subject to amendment, or to a motion to postpone, or to a motion to proceed to the consideration of other business. A motion to reconsider the vote by which the motion is agreed to or disagreed to shall not be in order. If a motion to proceed to the consideration of the joint resolution is agreed to, the joint resolution shall remain the unfinished business of the Senate until disposed of.
“(2) In the Senate, debate on the joint resolution, and on all debatable motions and appeals in connection therewith, shall be limited to not more than 10 hours, which shall be divided equally between those favoring and those opposing the joint resolution. A motion to further limit debate is in order and not debatable. An amendment to, or a motion to postpone, or a motion to proceed to the consideration of other business, or a motion to recommit the joint resolution is not in order.
“(e) In the Senate, the procedure specified in subsection (c) or (d) shall not apply to the consideration of a joint resolution respecting a nonmajor rule—
“(f) If, before the passage by one House of a joint resolution of that House described in subsection (a), that House receives from the other House a joint resolution described in subsection (a), then the following procedures shall apply:
“For purposes of this chapter:
“(2) The term ‘major rule’ means any rule, including an interim final rule, that the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of the Office of Management and Budget finds has resulted in or is likely to result in—
“(4) The term ‘rule’ has the meaning given such term in section 551, except that such term does not include—
“(A) any rule of particular applicability, including a rule that approves or prescribes for the future rates, wages, prices, services, or allowances therefore, corporate or financial structures, reorganizations, mergers, or acquisitions thereof, or accounting practices or disclosures bearing on any of the foregoing;
“(a) No determination, finding, action, or omission under this chapter shall be subject to judicial review.
“(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), a court may determine whether a Federal agency has completed the necessary requirements under this chapter for a rule to take effect.
“(c) The enactment of a joint resolution of approval under section 802 shall not be interpreted to serve as a grant or modification of statutory authority by Congress for the promulgation of a rule, shall not extinguish or affect any claim, whether substantive or procedural, against any alleged defect in a rule, and shall not form part of the record before the court in any judicial proceeding concerning a rule except for purposes of determining whether or not the rule is in effect.
Ҥ 806. Exemption for monetary policy
“Nothing in this chapter shall apply to rules that concern monetary policy proposed or implemented by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or the Federal Open Market Committee.
Ҥ 807. Effective date of certain rules
“Notwithstanding section 801—
shall take effect at such time as the Federal agency promulgating the rule determines.”.
SEC. 4. Budgetary effects of rules subject to section 802 of title 5, United States Code.
Section 257(b)(2) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 907(b)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
“(E) BUDGETARY EFFECTS OF RULES SUBJECT TO SECTION 802 OF TITLE 5, UNITED STATES CODE.—Any rule subject to the congressional approval procedure set forth in section 802 of chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, affecting budget authority, outlays, or receipts shall be assumed to be effective unless it is not approved in accordance with such section.”.
SEC. 5. Government Accountability Office study of rules.
(a) In general.—The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study to determine, as of the date of the enactment of this Act—
(1) how many rules (as such term is defined in section 804 of title 5, United States Code) were in effect;
Union Calendar No. 61 | |||||
| |||||
[Report No. 118–84, Part I] | |||||
A BILL | |||||
To amend chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, to provide that major rules of the executive branch shall have no force or effect unless a joint resolution of approval is enacted into law. | |||||
June 1, 2023 | |||||
Reported from the Committee on the Judiciary with an amendment | |||||
June 1, 2023 | |||||
Committees on Rules and the Budget discharged; committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed |