II 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 4055 

To establish a task force for regulatory oversight and review. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 7, 2022 

Mr. LEE (for himself, Mr. CRUZ, Mr. BRAUN, Mr. SCOTT of Florida, and Mr. 

JOHNSON) 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 16:52 Apr 12, 2022 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S4055.IS S4055

pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
2 

•S 4055 IS

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 and shall be a non9 voting, ex officio member of the Task Force; 

10 (B) 1 representative of the Office of Infor11 mation and Regulatory Affairs, who shall be a 

12 non-voting, ex officio member of the Task 

13 Force; and 

14 (C) 16 individuals from the private sector, 

15 of whom— 

16 (i) 4 shall be appointed by the major17 ity leader of the Senate; 

18 (ii) 4 shall be appointed by the minor19 ity leader of the Senate; 

20 (iii) 4 shall be appointed by the 

21 Speaker of the House of Representatives; 

22 and 

23 (iv) 4 shall be appointed by the minor24 ity leader of the House of Representatives. 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
3 

•S 4055 IS

1 (2) QUALIFICATIONS OF PRIVATE SECTOR MEM2 BERS.— 

3 (A) EXPERTISE.—Each member of the 

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

5 shall be an individual with expertise in Federal 

6 regulatory policy, Federal regulatory compli7 ance, economics, law, or business management. 

8 (B) SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS.—Not 

9 fewer than 2 of the members of the Task Force 

10 appointed under each clause of paragraph 

11 (1)(C) shall be representatives of a small busi12 ness concern, as defined in section 3 of the 

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

14 (C) POLITICAL AFFILIATION.—Not more 

15 than 2 of the members of the Task Force ap16 pointed under each clause of paragraph (1)(C) 

17 may be affiliated with the same political party. 

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) STAFF.— 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
4 

•S 4055 IS

1 (1) DESIGNATION OF EXISTING STAFF.—The 

2 Director of the Office of Management and Budget 

3 may designate employees of the Office of Manage4 ment and Budget, including employees of the Office 

5 of Information and Regulatory Affairs, as necessary 

6 to help the Task Force carry out its duties under 

7 this section. 

8 (2) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in 

9 paragraph (1) shall be construed to authorize the 

10 provision of any additional compensation to an em11 ployee designated under that paragraph. 

12 (f) EVALUATION OF REGULATIONS AND GUID13 ANCE.—The Task Force shall evaluate, and provide rec14 ommendations for modification, consolidation, harmoni15 zation, or repeal of, Federal regulations or guidance 

16 that— 

17 (1) exclude or otherwise inhibit competition, 

18 causing industries of the United States to be less 

19 competitive with global competitors; 

20 (2) create barriers to entry for United States 

21 businesses, including entrepreneurs and startups; 

22 (3) increase the operating costs for domestic 

23 manufacturing; 

24 (4) impose substantial compliance costs and 

25 other burdens on industries of the United States, 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
5 

•S 4055 IS

1 making those industries less competitive with global 

2 competitors; 

3 (5) impose burdensome and lengthy permitting 

4 processes and requirements; 

5 (6) impact energy production by United States 

6 businesses and make the United States dependent 

7 on foreign countries for energy supply; 

8 (7) restrict domestic mining, including the min9 ing of critical minerals; or 

10 (8) inhibit capital formation in the economy of 

11 the United States. 

12 (g) WEBSITE.—The Task Force shall establish and 

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

14 (1) a portal for the submission of written com15 ments under subsection (i); and 

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

17 (h) DUTY OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Upon request of 

18 the Task Force, a Federal agency shall provide applicable 

19 documents and information to help the Task Force carry 

20 out its functions under this section. 

21 (i) WRITTEN RECOMMENDATIONS.— 

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

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

24 Force shall initiate a process to solicit and collect 

25 written recommendations regarding regulations or 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
6 

•S 4055 IS

1 guidance described in subsection (f) from the general 

2 public, interested parties, Federal agencies, and 

3 other relevant entities. 

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

5 shall allow written recommendations under para6 graph (1) to be submitted through— 

7 (A) the website of the Task Force; 

8 (B) regulations.gov; 

9 (C) the mail; or 

10 (D) other appropriate written means. 

11 (3) PUBLICATION.—The Task Force shall pub12 lish each recommendation submitted under para13 graph (1)— 

14 (A) in the Federal Register; 

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

16 (C) on regulations.gov. 

17 (4) PUBLIC OUTREACH.—In addition to solic18 iting and collecting written recommendations under 

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

20 outreach and convene focus groups in geographically 

21 diverse areas throughout the United States to solicit 

22 feedback and public comments regarding regulations 

23 or guidance described in subsection (f). 

24 (5) REVIEW AND CONSIDERATION.—The Task 

25 Force shall review the information received under 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
7 

•S 4055 IS

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

2 information in the reports and special message re3 quired under subsections (j) and (k), respectively. 

4 (j) REPORTS.— 

5 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Task Force shall sub6 mit quarterly and annual reports to Congress on the 

7 findings of the Task Force under this section. 

8 (2) CONTENTS.—Each report submitted under 

9 paragraph (1) shall— 

10 (A) analyze the Federal regulations or 

11 guidance identified in accordance with sub12 section (f); and 

13 (B) provide recommendations for modifica14 tions, consolidation, harmonization, and repeal 

15 of the regulations or guidance described in sub16 paragraph (A) of this paragraph. 

17 (3) MAJORITY VOTE REQUIRED.—The Task 

18 Force may only include a finding or recommendation 

19 in a report submitted under paragraph (1) if a ma20 jority of the members of the Task Force have ap21 proved the finding or recommendation. 

22 (k) SPECIAL MESSAGE TO CONGRESS.— 

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

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


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
8 

•S 4055 IS

1 (A) the matter after the resolving clause of 

2 which contains only— 

3 (i) a list of some or all of the regula4 tions or guidance that were recommended 

5 for repeal in a special message submitted 

6 to Congress under paragraph (2); and 

7 (ii) a provision that immediately re8 peals the listed regulations or guidance 

9 upon enactment of the joint resolution; and 

10 (B) upon which Congress completes action 

11 before the end of the first period of 60 calendar 

12 days after the date on which the special mes13 sage described in subparagraph (A)(i) of this 

14 paragraph is received by Congress. 

15 (2) SUBMISSION.— 

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

17 day on which both Houses of Congress are in 

18 session after May 1 of each year, the Director 

19 of the Office of Management and Budget shall 

20 submit to Congress, on behalf of the Task 

21 Force, a special message that— 

22 (i) details each regulation or guidance 

23 document that the Task Force rec24 ommends for repeal; and 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
9 

•S 4055 IS

1 (ii) explains why each regulation or 

2 guidance document should be repealed. 

3 (B) DELIVERY TO HOUSE AND SENATE; 

4 PRINTING.—Each special message submitted 

5 under subparagraph (A) shall be— 

6 (i) delivered to the Clerk of the House 

7 of Representatives and the Secretary of the 

8 Senate; and 

9 (ii) printed in the Congressional 

10 Record. 

11 (3) PROCEDURE IN HOUSE AND SENATE.— 

12 (A) REFERRAL.—A covered resolution 

13 shall be referred to the appropriate committee 

14 of the House of Representatives or the Senate, 

15 as the case may be. 

16 (B) DISCHARGE OF COMMITTEE.—If the 

17 committee to which a covered resolution has 

18 been referred has not reported the resolution at 

19 the end of 25 calendar days after the introduc20 tion of the resolution— 

21 (i) the committee shall be discharged 

22 from further consideration of the resolu23 tion; and 

24 (ii) the resolution shall be placed on 

25 the appropriate calendar. 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
10 

•S 4055 IS

1 (4) FLOOR CONSIDERATION IN THE HOUSE.— 

2 (A) MOTION TO PROCEED.— 

3 (i) IN GENERAL.—When the com4 mittee of the House of Representatives has 

5 reported, or has been discharged from fur6 ther consideration of, a covered resolution, 

7 it shall at any time thereafter be in order 

8 (even though a previous motion to the 

9 same effect has been disagreed to) to move 

10 to proceed to the consideration of the reso11 lution. 

12 (ii) PRIVILEGE.—A motion described 

13 in clause (i) shall be highly privileged and 

14 not debatable. 

15 (iii) NO AMENDMENT OR MOTION TO

16 RECONSIDER.—An amendment to a motion 

17 described in clause (i) shall not be in 

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

19 reconsider the vote by which the motion is 

20 agreed to or disagreed to. 

21 (B) DEBATE.— 

22 (i) IN GENERAL.—Debate in the 

23 House of Representatives on a covered res24 olution shall be limited to not more than 2 

25 hours, which shall be divided equally beVerDate Sep 11 2014 16:52 Apr 12, 2022 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S4055.IS S4055

pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
11 

•S 4055 IS

1 tween those favoring and those opposing 

2 the resolution. 

3 (ii) NO MOTION TO RECONSIDER.—It 

4 shall not be in order in the House of Rep5 resentatives to move to reconsider the vote 

6 by which a covered resolution is agreed to 

7 or disagreed to. 

8 (C) NO MOTION TO POSTPONE CONSIDER9 ATION OR PROCEED TO CONSIDERATION OF

10 OTHER BUSINESS.—In the House of Represent11 atives, motions to postpone, made with respect 

12 to the consideration of a covered resolution, and 

13 motions to proceed to the consideration of other 

14 business, shall not be in order. 

15 (D) APPEALS FROM DECISIONS OF

16 CHAIR.—An appeal from the decision of the 

17 Chair relating to the application of the Rules of 

18 the House of Representatives to the procedure 

19 relating to a covered resolution shall be decided 

20 without debate. 

21 (5) FLOOR CONSIDERATION IN THE SENATE.— 

22 (A) MOTION TO PROCEED.— 

23 (i) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding 

24 Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the 

25 Senate, when the committee of the Senate 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
12 

•S 4055 IS

1 to which a covered resolution is referred 

2 has reported, or has been discharged from 

3 further consideration of, a covered resolu4 tion, it shall at any time thereafter be in 

5 order (even though a previous motion to 

6 the same effect has been disagreed to) to 

7 move to proceed to the consideration of the 

8 resolution and all points of order against 

9 the covered resolution are waived. 

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

11 proceed described in clause (i) is subject to 

12 4 hours of debate divided equally between 

13 those favoring and those opposing the cov14 ered resolution. 

15 (iii) NO AMENDMENT OR MOTION TO

16 POSTPONE OR PROCEED TO OTHER BUSI17 NESS.—A motion to proceed described in 

18 clause (i) is not subject to— 

19 (I) amendment; 

20 (II) a motion to postpone; or 

21 (III) a motion to proceed to the 

22 consideration of other business. 

23 (B) FLOOR CONSIDERATION.— 

24 (i) GENERAL.—In the Senate, a cov25 ered resolution shall be subject to 10 hours 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
13 

•S 4055 IS

1 of debate divided equally between those fa2 voring and those opposing the covered res3 olution. 

4 (ii) AMENDMENTS.—In the Senate, no 

5 amendment to a covered resolution shall be 

6 in order, except an amendment that strikes 

7 from or adds to the list required under 

8 paragraph (1)(A)(i) a regulation or guid9 ance document recommended for repeal by 

10 the Task Force. 

11 (iii) MOTIONS AND APPEALS.—In the 

12 Senate, a motion to reconsider a vote on 

13 final passage of a covered resolution shall 

14 not be in order, and points of order, in15 cluding questions of relevancy, and appeals 

16 from the decision of the Presiding Officer, 

17 shall be decided without debate. 

18 (6) RECEIPT OF RESOLUTION FROM OTHER

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

20 House receives from the other a covered resolution— 

21 (A) the covered resolution of the other 

22 House shall not be referred to a committee and 

23 shall be deemed to have been discharged from 

24 committee on the day on which it is received; 

25 and 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
14 

•S 4055 IS

1 (B) the procedures set forth in paragraph 

2 (4) or (5), as applicable, shall apply in the re3 ceiving House to the covered resolution received 

4 from the other House to the same extent as 

5 those procedures apply to a covered resolution 

6 of the receiving House. 

7 (7) RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTA8 TIVES AND THE SENATE.—Paragraphs (3) through 

9 (7) are enacted by Congress— 

10 (A) as an exercise of the rulemaking power 

11 of the House of Representatives and the Sen12 ate, respectively, and as such are deemed a part 

13 of the rules of each House, respectively, but ap14 plicable only with respect to the procedures to 

15 be followed in the House in the case of covered 

16 resolutions, and supersede other rules only to 

17 the extent that they are inconsistent with such 

18 other rules; and 

19 (B) with full recognition of the constitu20 tional right of either House to change the rules 

21 (so far as relating to the procedure of that 

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

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

24 rule of that House. 

25 (l) FUNDING.— 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
15 

•S 4055 IS

1 (1) NO ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS AUTHORIZED.— 

2 No additional amounts are authorized to be appro3 priated to carry out this section. 

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

5 use amounts otherwise available to the Office of 

6 Management and Budget to carry out this section. 

Æ 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS