II 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 4920 

To establish a task force for regulatory oversight and review. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 31, 2024 

Mr. LEE (for himself, Mr. CRAPO, and Mr. RISCH) introduced the following 

bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland 

Security and Governmental Affairs 

A BILL 

To establish a task force for regulatory oversight and review. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Locating the Ineffi5 ciencies of Bureaucratic Edicts to Reform And Transform 

6 the Economy Act’’ or the ‘‘LIBERATE Act’’. 

7 SEC. 2. REGULATORY OVERSIGHT AND REVIEW TASK 

8 FORCE. 

9 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a task 

10 force to be known as the ‘‘Regulatory Oversight and ReVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:47 Sep 05, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S4920.IS S4920

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1 view Task Force’’ (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Task 

2 Force’’). 

3 (b) MEMBERSHIP.— 

4 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Task Force shall be 

5 composed of— 

6 (A) the Director of the Office of Manage7 ment and Budget, who shall serve as the Chair8 person of the Task Force; 

9 (B) 1 representative of the Office of Infor10 mation and Regulatory Affairs; and 

11 (C) 16 individuals from the private sector, 

12 of whom— 

13 (i) 4 shall be appointed by the major14 ity leader of the Senate; 

15 (ii) 4 shall be appointed by the minor16 ity leader of the Senate; 

17 (iii) 4 shall be appointed by the 

18 Speaker of the House of Representatives; 

19 and 

20 (iv) 4 shall be appointed by the minor21 ity leader of the House of Representatives. 

22 (2) QUALIFICATIONS OF PRIVATE SECTOR MEM23 BERS.— 

24 (A) EXPERTISE.—Each member of the 

25 Task Force appointed under paragraph (1)(C) 


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1 shall be an individual with expertise in Federal 

2 regulatory policy, Federal regulatory compli3 ance, economics, law, or business management. 

4 (B) SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS.—Not 

5 fewer than 2 of the members of the Task Force 

6 appointed under each clause of paragraph 

7 (1)(C) shall be representatives of a small busi8 ness concern, as defined in section 3 of the 

9 Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632). 

10 (C) POLITICAL AFFILIATION.—Not more 

11 than 2 of the members of the Task Force ap12 pointed under each clause of paragraph (1)(C) 

13 may be affiliated with the same political party. 

14 (3) APPOINTMENT.—Not later than 30 days 

15 after the date of enactment of this Act, the Presi16 dent shall appoint each member of the Task Force 

17 under paragraph (1)(C). 

18 (c) CONSULTATION WITH GAO.—In carrying out its 

19 functions under this section, the Task Force shall consult 

20 with the Government Accountability Office. 

21 (d) NO COMPENSATION.—A member of the Task 

22 Force may not receive any compensation for serving on 

23 the Task Force. 

24 (e) EVALUATION OF REGULATIONS.—The Task 

25 Force shall evaluate, and provide recommendations for 


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1 modification, consolidation, harmonization, or repeal of, 

2 Federal regulations that— 

3 (1) exclude or otherwise inhibit competition, 

4 causing industries of the United States to be less 

5 competitive with global competitors; 

6 (2) create barriers to entry for United States 

7 businesses, including entrepreneurs and startups; 

8 (3) increase the operating costs for domestic 

9 manufacturing; 

10 (4) impose substantial compliance costs and 

11 other burdens on industries of the United States, 

12 making those industries less competitive with global 

13 competitors; 

14 (5) impose burdensome and lengthy permitting 

15 processes and requirements; 

16 (6) impact energy production by United States 

17 businesses and make the United States dependent 

18 on foreign countries for energy supply; 

19 (7) restrict domestic mining, including the min20 ing of critical minerals; or 

21 (8) inhibit capital formation in the economy of 

22 the United States. 

23 (f) WEBSITE.—The Task Force shall establish and 

24 maintain a user-friendly, public-facing website to be— 


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1 (1) a portal for the submission of written com2 ments under subsection (h); and 

3 (2) a gateway for reports and key information. 

4 (g) DUTY OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Upon request of 

5 the Task Force, a Federal agency shall provide applicable 

6 documents and information to help the Task Force carry 

7 out its functions under this section. 

8 (h) WRITTEN RECOMMENDATIONS.— 

9 (1) IN GENERAL.— Not later than 15 days 

10 after the first meeting of the Task Force, the Task 

11 Force shall initiate a process to solicit and collect 

12 written recommendations regarding regulations de13 scribed in subsection (e) from the general public, in14 terested parties, Federal agencies, and other relevant 

15 entities. 

16 (2) MANNER OF SUBMISSION.—The Task Force 

17 shall allow written recommendations under para18 graph (1) to be submitted through— 

19 (A) the website of the Task Force; 

20 (B) regulations.gov; 

21 (C) the mail; or 

22 (D) other appropriate written means. 

23 (3) PUBLICATION.—The Task Force shall pub24 lish each recommendation submitted under para25 graph (1)— 


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1 (A) in the Federal Register; 

2 (B) on the website of the Task Force; and 

3 (C) on regulations.gov. 

4 (4) PUBLIC OUTREACH.—In addition to solic5 iting and collecting written recommendations under 

6 paragraph (1), the Task Force shall conduct public 

7 outreach and convene focus groups in geographically 

8 diverse areas throughout the United States to solicit 

9 feedback and public comments regarding regulations 

10 described in subsection (e). 

11 (5) REVIEW AND CONSIDERATION.—The Task 

12 Force shall review the information received under 

13 paragraphs (1) and (4) and consider including that 

14 information in the reports and special message re15 quired under subsections (i) and (j), respectively. 

16 (i) REPORTS.— 

17 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Task Force shall sub18 mit quarterly and annual reports to Congress on the 

19 findings of the Task Force under this section. 

20 (2) CONTENTS.—Each report submitted under 

21 paragraph (1) shall— 

22 (A) analyze the Federal regulations identi23 fied in accordance with subsection (e); and 

24 (B) provide recommendations for modifica25 tions, consolidation, harmonization, and repeal 


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1 of the regulations described in subparagraph 

2 (A) of this paragraph. 

3 (j) SPECIAL MESSAGE TO CONGRESS.— 

4 (1) DEFINITION.—In this subsection, the term 

5 ‘‘covered resolution’’ means a joint resolution— 

6 (A) the matter after the resolving clause of 

7 which contains only— 

8 (i) a list of some or all of the regula9 tions that were recommended for repeal in 

10 a special message submitted to Congress 

11 under paragraph (2); and 

12 (ii) a provision that immediately re13 peals the listed regulations upon enactment 

14 of the joint resolution; and 

15 (B) upon which Congress completes action 

16 before the end of the first period of 60 calendar 

17 days after the date on which the special mes18 sage described in subparagraph (A)(i) of this 

19 paragraph is received by Congress. 

20 (2) SUBMISSION.— 

21 (A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than the first 

22 day on which both Houses of Congress are in 

23 session after May 1 of each year, the Director 

24 of the Office of Management and Budget shall 


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1 submit to Congress, on behalf of the Task 

2 Force, a special message that— 

3 (i) details each regulation that the 

4 Task Force recommends for repeal; and 

5 (ii) explains why each regulation 

6 should be repealed. 

7 (B) DELIVERY TO HOUSE AND SENATE; 

8 PRINTING.—Each special message submitted 

9 under subparagraph (A) shall be— 

10 (i) delivered to the Clerk of the House 

11 of Representatives and the Secretary of the 

12 Senate; and 

13 (ii) printed in the Congressional 

14 Record. 

15 (3) PROCEDURE IN HOUSE AND SENATE.— 

16 (A) REFERRAL.—A covered resolution 

17 shall be referred to the appropriate committee 

18 of the House of Representatives or the Senate, 

19 as the case may be. 

20 (B) DISCHARGE OF COMMITTEE.—If the 

21 committee to which a covered resolution has 

22 been referred has not reported the resolution at 

23 the end of 25 calendar days after the introduc24 tion of the resolution— 


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1 (i) the committee shall be discharged 

2 from further consideration of the resolu3 tion; and 

4 (ii) the resolution shall be placed on 

5 the appropriate calendar. 

6 (4) FLOOR CONSIDERATION IN THE HOUSE.— 

7 (A) MOTION TO PROCEED.— 

8 (i) IN GENERAL.—When the com9 mittee of the House of Representatives has 

10 reported, or has been discharged from fur11 ther consideration of, a covered resolution, 

12 it shall at any time thereafter be in order 

13 (even though a previous motion to the 

14 same effect has been disagreed to) to move 

15 to proceed to the consideration of the reso16 lution. 

17 (ii) PRIVILEGE.—A motion described 

18 in clause (i) shall be highly privileged and 

19 not debatable. 

20 (iii) NO AMENDMENT OR MOTION TO

21 RECONSIDER.—An amendment to a motion 

22 described in clause (i) shall not be in 

23 order, nor shall it be in order to move to 

24 reconsider the vote by which the motion is 

25 agreed to or disagreed to. 


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1 (B) DEBATE.— 

2 (i) IN GENERAL.—Debate in the 

3 House of Representatives on a covered res4 olution shall be limited to not more than 2 

5 hours, which shall be divided equally be6 tween those favoring and those opposing 

7 the resolution. 

8 (ii) NO MOTION TO RECONSIDER.—It 

9 shall not be in order in the House of Rep10 resentatives to move to reconsider the vote 

11 by which a covered resolution is agreed to 

12 or disagreed to. 

13 (C) NO MOTION TO POSTPONE CONSIDER14 ATION OR PROCEED TO CONSIDERATION OF

15 OTHER BUSINESS.—In the House of Represent16 atives, motions to postpone, made with respect 

17 to the consideration of a covered resolution, and 

18 motions to proceed to the consideration of other 

19 business, shall not be in order. 

20 (D) APPEALS FROM DECISIONS OF

21 CHAIR.—An appeal from the decision of the 

22 Chair relating to the application of the Rules of 

23 the House of Representatives to the procedure 

24 relating to a covered resolution shall be decided 

25 without debate. 


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1 (5) FLOOR CONSIDERATION IN THE SENATE.— 

2 (A) MOTION TO PROCEED.— 

3 (i) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding 

4 Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the 

5 Senate, when the committee of the Senate 

6 to which a covered resolution is referred 

7 has reported, or has been discharged from 

8 further consideration of, a covered resolu9 tion, it shall at any time thereafter be in 

10 order (even though a previous motion to 

11 the same effect has been disagreed to) to 

12 move to proceed to the consideration of the 

13 resolution and all points of order against 

14 the covered resolution are waived. 

15 (ii) DIVISION OF TIME.—A motion to 

16 proceed described in clause (i) is subject to 

17 4 hours of debate divided equally between 

18 those favoring and those opposing the cov19 ered resolution. 

20 (iii) NO AMENDMENT OR MOTION TO

21 POSTPONE OR PROCEED TO OTHER BUSI22 NESS.—A motion to proceed described in 

23 clause (i) is not subject to— 

24 (I) amendment; 

25 (II) a motion to postpone; or 


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1 (III) a motion to proceed to the 

2 consideration of other business. 

3 (B) FLOOR CONSIDERATION.— 

4 (i) GENERAL.—In the Senate, a cov5 ered resolution shall be subject to 10 hours 

6 of debate divided equally between those fa7 voring and those opposing the covered res8 olution. 

9 (ii) AMENDMENTS.—In the Senate, no 

10 amendment to a covered resolution shall be 

11 in order, except an amendment that strikes 

12 from or adds to the list required under 

13 paragraph (1)(A)(i) a regulation rec14 ommended for repeal by the Task Force. 

15 (iii) MOTIONS AND APPEALS.—In the 

16 Senate, a motion to reconsider a vote on 

17 final passage of a covered resolution shall 

18 not be in order, and points of order, in19 cluding questions of relevancy, and appeals 

20 from the decision of the Presiding Officer, 

21 shall be decided without debate. 

22 (6) RECEIPT OF RESOLUTION FROM OTHER

23 HOUSE.—If, before passing a covered resolution, one 

24 House receives from the other a covered resolution— 


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1 (A) the covered resolution of the other 

2 House shall not be referred to a committee and 

3 shall be deemed to have been discharged from 

4 committee on the day on which it is received; 

5 and 

6 (B) the procedures set forth in paragraph 

7 (4) or (5), as applicable, shall apply in the re8 ceiving House to the covered resolution received 

9 from the other House to the same extent as 

10 those procedures apply to a covered resolution 

11 of the receiving House. 

12 (7) RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTA13 TIVES AND THE SENATE.—Paragraphs (3) through 

14 (7) are enacted by Congress— 

15 (A) as an exercise of the rulemaking power 

16 of the House of Representatives and the Sen17 ate, respectively, and as such are deemed a part 

18 of the rules of each House, respectively, but ap19 plicable only with respect to the procedures to 

20 be followed in the House in the case of covered 

21 resolutions, and supersede other rules only to 

22 the extent that they are inconsistent with such 

23 other rules; and 

24 (B) with full recognition of the constitu25 tional right of either House to change the rules 


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1 (so far as relating to the procedure of that 

2 House) at any time, in the same manner, and 

3 to the same extent as in the case of any other 

4 rule of that House. 

5 (k) FUNDING.— 

6 (1) NO ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS AUTHORIZED.— 

7 No additional amounts are authorized to be appro8 priated to carry out this section. 

9 (2) OTHER FUNDING.—The Task Force shall 

10 use amounts otherwise available to the Office of 

11 Management and Budget to carry out this section. 

Æ 


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