Chairwoman Foxx Opening Remarks on H.R. 77
As prepared for delivery:
Good afternoon. The Committee will come to order. Without objection, the Chair is authorized to declare a recess at any time.
Today, the Rules Committee is convening to consider H.R. 77, the Midnight Rules Relief Act.
The Midnight Rules Relief Act was considered by the Rules Committee and passed the House before the 118th Congress ended.
We are back to finish the job, and to set this bill on a glidepath directly to President Trump’s desk.
Previous administrations, both Republican and Democrat, have churned out hundreds of new rules – what we refer to as “Midnight Rules” – as the clock winds down on their respective tenures.
As a direct result, Congress becomes mired in regulatory malaise – it’s an all too familiar occurrence that should be remedied.
Now, Congress already possesses the power to hold regulatory overreach in check via current law which is a Congressional Review Act.
That said, a Congressional Review Act is limited in scope in that it applies to a single rule.
For subsequent rules that are issued, each one requires its own separate resolution.
As one can imagine, previous administrations, both Republican and Democrat, have seized upon this and inundated Congress with regulatory blitzes – often to the detriment of the very people we are here to serve: our constituents.
The Midnight Rules Relief Act provides a reasonable, commonsense remedy to this problem that has existed for decades.
H.R. 77 provides the legislative branch with leg up – with respect to executive rulemaking regardless of the administration – by allowing Congress to consider multiple rules in one fell swoop.
The result of this is twofold: Congress can keep pace with the issuance of “Midnight Rules”, and it can also provide a necessary, diligent check against the federal bureaucracy.
Spurring congressional efficiency and reining in the federal bureaucracy at the same time are causes worthy of bipartisan support.
I certainly believe that to be true.
Speaking of bipartisan support, I will note that this legislation did receive bipartisan support in December.
I do hope that more of our Democrat colleagues will take this opportunity – the second time around – to join us in passing it.
I look forward to the discussion on this legislation, and I now yield to the Ranking Member, Mr. McGovern, for any comments he wishes to make.
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