Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2021

Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2021

This bill revises provisions relating to congressional review of agency rulemaking.

Specifically, the bill establishes a congressional approval process for a major rule. A major rule may only take effect if Congress approves of the rule. A major rule is a rule that results in (1) an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more; (2) a major increase in costs or prices for consumers, individual industries, government agencies, or geographic regions; or (3) significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or the ability of U.S.-based enterprises to compete with foreign-based enterprises.

In addition, the bill establishes a congressional disapproval process for a nonmajor rule. A nonmajor rule may only take effect if Congress does not disapprove of the rule.

Bill 117 HR 1776, also known as the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2021, aims to increase congressional oversight of federal regulations issued by executive branch agencies. The bill requires that any major regulation, defined as having an economic impact of $100 million or more, must be approved by Congress before it can take effect.

Under the bill, Congress would have 70 legislative days to review and approve major regulations. If Congress does not act within this timeframe, the regulation would not go into effect. Additionally, the bill allows for expedited consideration of regulations deemed to be emergencies.

Supporters of the bill argue that it would help ensure that regulations are thoroughly vetted and that Congress has a say in the rulemaking process. They believe that this increased oversight would lead to better regulatory outcomes and prevent executive overreach. Opponents of the bill argue that it would hinder the ability of executive branch agencies to effectively regulate and protect public health and safety. They believe that the bill would create unnecessary delays and politicize the regulatory process. Overall, Bill 117 HR 1776 seeks to strike a balance between executive authority and congressional oversight in the rulemaking process. It will be important to monitor the progress of this bill as it moves through Congress to see how it may impact the regulatory landscape in the United States.