IB 
Union Calendar No. 61 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 277 
[Report No. 118–84, Part I] 
To amend chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, to provide that major 
rules of the executive branch shall have no force or effect unless a 
joint resolution of approval is enacted into law. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 11, 2023 
Mrs. CAMMACK (for herself, Mr. JORDAN, Mr. COMER, Mr. EMMER, Mr. 
FULCHER, Mr. DUNN of Florida, Mr. FINSTAD, Mr. LAMBORN, Mr. 
CARL, Mrs. MILLER of Illinois, Mr. BUCSHON, Mr. JOYCE of Pennsyl-
vania, Mr. RESCHENTHALER, Mr. BUCHANAN, Mr. OBERNOLTE, Mr. 
JACKSON of Texas, Mr. MOONEY, Ms. GRANGER, Mr. NEWHOUSE, Mr. 
GIMENEZ, Mrs. LESKO, Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas, Mr. MASSIE, Mr. AUS-
TIN SCOTT of Georgia, Mr. LATURNER, Mr. CLYDE, Mr. GRAVES of Lou-
isiana, Mrs. HINSON, Mrs. RODGERS of Washington, Mr. CRENSHAW, 
Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS, Mr. SMITH of Nebraska, Mr. ARRINGTON, Mr. 
BACON, Mr. PERRY, Mr. LAMALFA, Mr. BENTZ, Mr. ARMSTRONG, Mr. 
JOHNSON of Louisiana, Mr. CLOUD, Mr. GARBARINO, Mr. BANKS, Mr. 
TIFFANY, Mr. BURCHETT, Mr. NORMAN, Mr. ROY, Mr. OWENS, Mr. 
ISSA, Mr. RUTHERFORD, Mr. CARTER of Georgia, Mr. BURGESS, Mr. 
KELLY
of Mississippi, Mr. PALMER, Mr. WEBER
of Texas, Mr. 
WALBERG, Mr. BARR, Mr. MOORE of Utah, Mr. LOUDERMILK, Mr. C. 
SCOTT
FRANKLIN
of Florida, Ms. MACE, Mrs. MCCLAIN, Mr. 
BALDERSON, Mrs. STEEL, Mr. BIGGS, Ms. GREENE of Georgia, Mr. BILI-
RAKIS, Mr. DUNCAN, Mr. BOST, Mr. FEENSTRA, Mrs. SPARTZ, Mr. 
BABIN, Mr. WITTMAN, Mr. STEUBE, Mr. STEWART, Mr. SMUCKER, Mrs. 
BOEBERT, Mr. HUDSON, Mr. BUCK, Mrs. BICE, Mrs. FISCHBACH, Mr. 
FALLON, Mr. STEIL, Mr. MANN, Mr. ROGERS of Alabama, Mr. MURPHY, 
Mr. DONALDS, Mr. POSEY, Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota, Mr. WILSON 
of South Carolina, Mr. NEHLS, Mr. BAIRD, Mr. PFLUGER, Mr. BISHOP 
of North Carolina, Mr. WENSTRUP, Mr. HERN, Ms. TENNEY, Mr. CLINE, 
Mr. MOORE of Alabama, Mr. VAN DREW, Mr. MCCLINTOCK, Mr. GREEN 
of Tennessee, Mr. FITZGERALD, Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania, Mr. 
MAST, Mr. ROSENDALE, Mr. DAVIDSON, Mr. GAETZ, Mr. GOODEN of 
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Texas, Ms. VAN DUYNE, Mr. BERGMAN, Mr. MIKE GARCIA of California, 
Mr. ALLEN, Ms. DE LA CRUZ, Mr. VALADAO, Mr. ZINKE, Mr. MCCAUL, 
Mr. DESJARLAIS, Mr. NUNN of Iowa, Mr. HUIZENGA, Mr. TIMMONS, Mr. 
COLLINS, Mr. LAWLER, Mr. SMITH of Missouri, Mrs. LUNA, Mr. TONY 
GONZALES of Texas, Mr. WESTERMAN, Mr. FERGUSON, Mrs. GONZA´LEZ- 
COLO´N, Mrs. CHAVEZ-DEREMER, Mr. JAMES, Mr. ESTES, Mr. 
CRAWFORD, Mr. MCHENRY, Ms. LEE of Florida, Mr. HARRIS, Mr. SES-
SIONS, Mr. LANGWORTHY, Mr. MEUSER, Ms. SALAZAR, Mr. DIAZ- 
BALART, Mr. EDWARDS, Mr. CISCOMANI, Mr. MORAN, Mr. PENCE, Mr. 
BRECHEEN, Mr. HILL, Mr. EZELL, Mrs. HOUCHIN, Mr. MCCORMICK, 
Mr. LUTTRELL, Mr. ALFORD, Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio, Mr. ROUZER, Mr. 
BURLISON, Mr. ELLZEY, Mr. WEBSTER of Florida, Ms. HAGEMAN, Mr. 
BEAN of Florida, Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana, Mrs. MILLER of West Vir-
ginia, Mr. GALLAGHER, Mr. GRIFFITH, Mr. GOOD of Virginia, Mr. MIL-
LER
of Ohio, Mr. MILLS, Mr. LUCAS, Mr. FLEISCHMANN, Mr. 
MOOLENAAR, Mr. LAHOOD, Ms. FOXX, Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky, Mr. 
FLOOD, Mr. GROTHMAN, Mr. VAN ORDEN, and Mr. GUEST) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, 
and in addition to the Committees on Rules, and the Budget, for a period 
to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consider-
ation of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
concerned 
JUNE 1, 2023 
Additional sponsors: Mr. YAKYM, Mr. LUETKEMEYER, Mr. SELF, Mr. 
SCALISE, Mr. GUTHRIE, Mr. OGLES, Mr. SANTOS, and Mr. ROSE 
JUNE 1, 2023 
Reported from the Committee on the Judiciary with an amendment 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
JUNE 1, 2023 
Committees on Rules and the Budget discharged; committed to the Committee 
of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed 
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on January 11, 2023] 
A BILL 
To amend chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, to provide 
that major rules of the executive branch shall have no 
force or effect unless a joint resolution of approval is 
enacted into law. 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Regulations from the 
Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2023’’ or the ‘‘REINS 
Act of 2023’’. 
SEC. 2. PURPOSE. 
The purpose of this Act is to increase accountability 
for and transparency in the Federal regulatory process. Sec-
tion 1 of article I of the United States Constitution grants 
all legislative powers to Congress. Over time, Congress has 
excessively delegated its constitutional charge while failing 
to conduct appropriate oversight and retain accountability 
for the content of the laws it passes. By requiring a vote 
in Congress, the REINS Act will result in more carefully 
drafted and detailed legislation, an improved regulatory 
process, and a legislative branch that is truly accountable 
to the American people for the laws imposed upon them. 
SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW OF AGENCY RULEMAKING. 
Chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, is amended 
to read as follows: 
‘‘CHAPTER 8—CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW 
OF AGENCY RULEMAKING 
‘‘Sec. 
‘‘801. Congressional review. 
‘‘802. Congressional approval procedure for major rules. 
‘‘803. Congressional disapproval procedure for nonmajor rules. 
‘‘804. Definitions. 
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‘‘805. Judicial review. 
‘‘806. Exemption for monetary policy. 
‘‘807. Effective date of certain rules. 
‘‘§ 801. Congressional review 
‘‘(a)(1)(A) Before a rule may take effect, the Federal 
agency promulgating such rule shall publish in the Federal 
Register a list of information on which the rule is based, 
including data, scientific and economic studies, and cost- 
benefit analyses, and identify how the public can access 
such information online, and shall submit to each House 
of the Congress and to the Comptroller General a report 
containing— 
‘‘(i) a copy of the rule; 
‘‘(ii) a concise general statement relating to the 
rule; 
‘‘(iii) a classification of the rule as a major or 
nonmajor rule, including an explanation of the classi-
fication specifically addressing each criteria for a 
major rule contained within subparagraphs (A) 
through (C) of section 804(2); 
‘‘(iv) a list of any other related regulatory ac-
tions intended to implement the same statutory provi-
sion or regulatory objective as well as the individual 
and aggregate economic effects of those actions; and 
‘‘(v) the proposed effective date of the rule. 
‘‘(B) On the date of the submission of the report under 
subparagraph (A), the Federal agency promulgating the 
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legislative days, as applicable, beginning on the date on 
which the report referred to in subsection (a)(1)(A) is re-
ceived by Congress (excluding days either House of Congress 
is adjourned for more than 3 days during a session of Con-
gress), then the rule described in that resolution shall be 
deemed not to be approved and such rule shall not take ef-
fect. 
‘‘(c)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this 
section (except subject to paragraph (3)), a major rule may 
take effect for one 90-calendar-day period if the President 
makes a determination under paragraph (2) and submits 
written notice of such determination to the Congress. 
‘‘(2) Paragraph (1) applies to a determination made 
by the President by Executive order that the major rule 
should take effect because such rule is— 
‘‘(A) necessary because of an imminent threat to 
health or safety or other emergency; 
‘‘(B) necessary for the enforcement of criminal 
laws; 
‘‘(C) necessary for national security; or 
‘‘(D) issued pursuant to any statute imple-
menting an international trade agreement. 
‘‘(3) An exercise by the President of the authority 
under this subsection shall have no effect on the procedures 
under section 802. 
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‘‘(d)(1) In addition to the opportunity for review oth-
erwise provided under this chapter, in the case of any rule 
for which a report was submitted in accordance with sub-
section (a)(1)(A) during the period beginning on the date 
occurring— 
‘‘(A) in the case of the Senate, 60 session days; 
or 
‘‘(B) in the case of the House of Representatives, 
60 legislative days, 
before the date the Congress is scheduled to adjourn a session 
of Congress through the date on which the same or suc-
ceeding Congress first convenes its next session, sections 802 
and 803 shall apply to such rule in the succeeding session 
of Congress. 
‘‘(2)(A) In applying sections 802 and 803 for purposes 
of such additional review, a rule described under paragraph 
(1) shall be treated as though— 
‘‘(i) such rule were published in the Federal Reg-
ister on— 
‘‘(I) in the case of the Senate, the 15th ses-
sion day; or 
‘‘(II) in the case of the House of Representa-
tives, the 15th legislative day, 
after the succeeding session of Congress first convenes; 
and 
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‘‘(ii) a report on such rule were submitted to 
Congress under subsection (a)(1) on such date. 
‘‘(B) Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to 
affect the requirement under subsection (a)(1) that a report 
shall be submitted to Congress before a rule can take effect. 
‘‘(3) A rule described under paragraph (1) shall take 
effect as otherwise provided by law (including other sub-
sections of this section). 
‘‘§ 802. Congressional approval procedure for major 
rules 
‘‘(a)(1) For purposes of this section, the term ‘joint res-
olution’ means only a joint resolution addressing a report 
classifying 
a 
rule 
as 
major 
pursuant 
to 
section 
801(a)(1)(A)(iii) that— 
‘‘(A) bears no preamble; 
‘‘(B) bears the following title (with blanks filled 
as appropriate): ‘Approving the rule submitted by 
lll relating to lll.’; 
‘‘(C) includes after its resolving clause only the 
following (with blanks filled as appropriate): ‘That 
Congress approves the rule submitted by lll re-
lating to lll.’; and 
‘‘(D) is introduced pursuant to paragraph (2). 
‘‘(2) After a House of Congress receives a report 
classifying 
a 
rule 
as 
major 
pursuant 
to 
section 
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801(a)(1)(A)(iii), the majority leader of that House (or his 
or her respective designee) shall introduce (by request, if ap-
propriate) a joint resolution described in paragraph (1)— 
‘‘(A) in the case of the House of Representatives, 
within 3 legislative days; and 
‘‘(B) in the case of the Senate, within 3 session 
days. 
‘‘(3) A joint resolution described in paragraph (1) 
shall not be subject to amendment at any stage of pro-
ceeding. 
‘‘(b) A joint resolution described in subsection (a) shall 
be referred in each House of Congress to the committees hav-
ing jurisdiction over the provision of law under which the 
rule is issued. 
‘‘(c) In the Senate, if the committee or committees to 
which a joint resolution described in subsection (a) has been 
referred have not reported it at the end of 15 session days 
after its introduction, such committee or committees shall 
be automatically discharged from further consideration of 
the resolution and it shall be placed on the calendar. A vote 
on final passage of the resolution shall be taken on or before 
the close of the 15th session day after the resolution is re-
ported by the committee or committees to which it was re-
ferred, or after such committee or committees have been dis-
charged from further consideration of the resolution. 
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‘‘(d)(1) In the Senate, when the committee or commit-
tees to which a joint resolution is referred have reported, 
or when a committee or committees are discharged (under 
subsection (c)) from further consideration of a joint resolu-
tion described in subsection (a), it is at any time thereafter 
in order (even though a previous motion to the same effect 
has been disagreed to) for a motion to proceed to the consid-
eration of the joint resolution, and all points of order 
against the joint resolution (and against consideration of 
the joint resolution) are waived. The motion is not subject 
to amendment, or to a motion to postpone, or to a motion 
to proceed to the consideration of other business. A motion 
to reconsider the vote by which the motion is agreed to or 
disagreed to shall not be in order. If a motion to proceed 
to the consideration of the joint resolution is agreed to, the 
joint resolution shall remain the unfinished business of the 
Senate until disposed of. 
‘‘(2) In the Senate, debate on the joint resolution, and 
on all debatable motions and appeals in connection there-
with, shall be limited to not more than 2 hours, which shall 
be divided equally between those favoring and those oppos-
ing the joint resolution. A motion to further limit debate 
is in order and not debatable. An amendment to, or a mo-
tion to postpone, or a motion to proceed to the consideration 
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of other business, or a motion to recommit the joint resolu-
tion is not in order. 
‘‘(3) In the Senate, immediately following the conclu-
sion of the debate on a joint resolution described in sub-
section (a), and a single quorum call at the conclusion of 
the debate if requested in accordance with the rules of the 
Senate, the vote on final passage of the joint resolution shall 
occur. 
‘‘(4) Appeals from the decisions of the Chair relating 
to the application of the rules of the Senate to the procedure 
relating to a joint resolution described in subsection (a) 
shall be decided without debate. 
‘‘(e) In the House of Representatives, if any committee 
to which a joint resolution described in subsection (a) has 
been referred has not reported it to the House at the end 
of 15 legislative days after its introduction, such committee 
shall be discharged from further consideration of the joint 
resolution, and it shall be placed on the appropriate cal-
endar. On the second and fourth Thursdays of each month 
it shall be in order at any time for the Speaker to recognize 
a Member who favors passage of a joint resolution that has 
appeared on the calendar for at least 5 legislative days to 
call up that joint resolution for immediate consideration 
in the House without intervention of any point of order. 
When so called up a joint resolution shall be considered as 
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