Overview
Title
An Act To amend chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, to provide for en bloc consideration in resolutions of disapproval for midnight rules, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
H.R. 115 is a bill that lets Congress say "no" to a bunch of new rules made at the end of a President's time in office all at once, instead of one-by-one. This makes it easier and faster for them to stop these last-minute changes.
Summary AI
H.R. 115, known as the "Midnight Rules Relief Act," aims to change how Congress can disapprove new rules made by federal agencies at the end of a President's term, commonly known as “midnight rules.” The bill would allow multiple rules to be disapproved in one vote, rather than separately, if those rules were submitted in the final year of a President's term. This change is meant to make it easier for Congress to reject last-minute regulations. The bill passed the House of Representatives on December 17, 2024.
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AnalysisAI
Overview of the Midnight Rules Relief Act
The Midnight Rules Relief Act, designated as H.R. 115, aims to streamline the process through which Congress can disapprove regulations, commonly referred to as "rules," that are enacted during the last year of a President's term—often dubbed "midnight rules." The bill proposes amendments to chapter 8 of title 5 in the United States Code to allow for the simultaneous disapproval of multiple such rules through a single joint resolution. This change is designed to expedite the legislative process, especially during transitions between presidential administrations.
Significant Issues with the Bill
One of the prominent issues associated with the bill is its potential to reduce the level of scrutiny each rule might receive. By bundling multiple rules into a single resolution for disapproval, there is an efficiency gain, but this approach may also lead to inadequate evaluation of the individual importance and implications of each rule. This could inadvertently overlook significant regulatory effects, possibly undermining the checks and balances that are central to the legislative process.
Another concern is the use of a placeholder format in the resolutions, which could engender ambiguity if not implemented with precise details. This could lead to confusion about which specific rules are being rejected, affecting transparency and the enforcement of regulatory disapprovals.
Impact on the Public and Specific Stakeholders
For the general public, the Midnight Rules Relief Act could have varying effects based on the nature of the disapproved regulations. Individuals may benefit from the quick rejection of rules considered cumbersome or unnecessary. Conversely, there is a risk that essential protections could be swept aside without sufficient debate or consideration, potentially affecting areas such as the environment, public health, or consumer rights.
The bill could particularly favor industries and businesses by swiftly removing regulations they view as burdensome. This might present an opportunity for businesses to operate with fewer restrictions, possibly leading to economic growth. However, stakeholders reliant on certain regulations for protection or advocacy—such as environmental groups—might view the bill as a threat to essential oversight and regulatory frameworks.
Overall, this legislation embodies a balance between efficient government operation and thorough legislative review, with possible consequences for governance, business regulation, and public policy all hinging on how effectively these changes are implemented and administered.
Issues
The provision in Section 2 allows for multiple rules to be disapproved in a single joint resolution, which could reduce legislative scrutiny of each rule. This approach, while efficient, may lead to less oversight on potentially significant regulations, impacting the balance of power and checks and balances. This is particularly relevant during 'midnight rules' which are issued at the end of a presidential term.
The placeholder format used in Section 2 ('the rule submitted by the __ relating to __') could create ambiguity if proper alignment and specific details are not provided during implementation. This could lead to procedural confusion or misinterpretation regarding which rules are being disapproved, impacting both transparency and enforcement.
The amendments in Section 2 are legal and procedural in nature and do not mention direct spending. Therefore, financially, the bill might not have an immediate direct impact on government expenditure. However, the overall economic impact of blocking multiple regulations simultaneously could vary depending on the nature of the rules disapproved.
The language used in Section 2 is complex and legalistic, which might be difficult for those unfamiliar with legislative procedures to understand. This could lead to public misunderstanding or misinformation about the bill's content and implications.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of this act gives it the official name “Midnight Rules Relief Act.”
2. En bloc consideration of resolutions of disapproval pertaining to midnight rules Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section changes existing U.S. law to allow Congress to disapprove multiple rules proposed during the last year of a President's term using a single joint resolution. It specifies how these resolutions should be worded to express such disapproval and ensure the rules have no effect.