Overview
Title
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
S. 4485 wants to make it easier for Congress to say "no" to a bunch of new rules made by a President right at the end of their time in office, like cleaning up a big mess before they leave.
Summary AI
S. 4485, known as the “Midnight Rules Relief Act of 2024,” aims to amend chapter 8 of title 5 in the United States Code. The bill allows Congress to consider multiple resolutions of disapproval for regulations, known as "midnight rules," introduced in the final year of a President’s term. By grouping these rules in en bloc consideration, it simplifies the process for Congress to reject them collectively. The intention is to provide a more efficient check on last-minute rule changes made by outgoing administrations.
Published
Keywords AI
Sources
Bill Statistics
Size
Language
Complexity
AnalysisAI
General Summary of the Bill
This proposed legislation, known as the "Midnight Rules Relief Act of 2024," aims to amend existing laws under chapter 8 of title 5 of the United States Code. The main purpose of the bill is to streamline the process by which Congress can disapprove of administrative rules that are issued in the last year of a President's term—commonly referred to as "midnight rules." This bill allows for these rules to be considered en bloc, meaning that multiple rules can be collectively targeted for disapproval in a single joint resolution, rather than addressing each one individually.
Summary of Significant Issues
One key issue with the bill is the terminology "midnight rules," which is not clearly explained within the text. This may lead to confusion about exactly which rules could be subject to disapproval under the bill's provisions. In addition, the bill involves complex legislative processes that could be difficult for those unfamiliar with legal procedures to fully grasp.
The provision for en bloc consideration of joint resolutions, while potentially streamlining the process, raises concerns about whether this could lead to broad, unchecked power in disapproving rules. The placeholder format used to describe disapproval targets lacks specificity, which may obscure what types and categories of rules are likely to be affected.
Impact on the Public Broadly
For the general public, this bill has the potential to alter how quickly and efficiently Congress can act to disapprove administrative rules that are submitted at the end of a Presidential term. This might serve to limit last-minute regulatory actions by an outgoing administration, which some might see as a positive reinforcement of checks and balances. However, if used excessively or arbitrarily, it could slow down the implementation of potentially beneficial rules and disrupt regulatory continuity.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
Administrative and Regulatory Bodies: Government agencies might experience a significant impact, as their ability to implement rules swiftly—especially during a transition of power—could be impeded. They would need to consider the possibility of collective disapproval and potentially defend their rules more rigorously.
Political Parties and Presidential Administrations: For political parties, especially those in opposition at the end of a presidential term, this act provides a tool for curbing the outgoing administration's influence through late-stage rulemaking. It could be seen positively as a means to ensure that last-minute regulations reflect broad consensus.
Business and Industry Groups: Businesses and industry stakeholders may see this bill as beneficial if it curtails the enactment of unforeseen regulatory burdens imposed at the end of a presidential term. However, it could also introduce uncertainty if well-considered regulations are abruptly invalidated through congressional disapproval.
In summary, while the "Midnight Rules Relief Act of 2024" aims to provide a more structured response to end-of-term regulatory actions, its implementation could have complex implications for governance, raising questions about the balance of power, regulatory stability, and the potential for political maneuvering.
Issues
The term 'midnight rules' used in Section 2 is not clearly defined in the bill, which may lead to misunderstandings about which rules are affected. This term relates to rules submitted during the final year of a President's term and could carry political implications.
The amendments to Section 801(d) and 802(a) of title 5, United States Code, in Section 2 involve complex legislative procedures that may not be easily understood by the general public. This could create confusion about how joint resolutions of disapproval will be applied.
Section 2's provision for en bloc consideration of resolutions could centralize the disapproval process, potentially leading to broad power being exercised, which could have significant political and legal implications for how regulations are managed.
The placeholder format 'the rule submitted by the __ relating to __' in Section 2 is vague and lacks specificity, potentially concealing the types of rules that might be targeted for disapproval under the amendments.
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 states that it will be known as the "Midnight Rules Relief Act of 2024".
2. En bloc consideration of resolutions of disapproval pertaining to midnight rules Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section outlines amendments to the United States Code regarding how Congress can disapprove of certain rules made at the end of a President's term. It allows Congress to reject multiple rules in a single joint resolution if the rules were submitted in the last year of the President's term.