I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 26 
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 3, 2017 
Mr. COLLINS of Georgia (for himself, Mr. GOODLATTE, Mr. SESSIONS, and 
Mr. MARINO) 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 consideration of such provisions as fall within 
the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
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. 
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 2017’’. 
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SEC. 2. PURPOSE. 
The purpose of this Act is to increase accountability 
for and transparency in the Federal regulatory process. 
Section 1 of article I of the United States Constitution 
grants all legislative powers to Congress. Over time, Con-
gress 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 im-
proved 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 RULE-
MAKING. 
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. 
‘‘805. Judicial review. 
‘‘806. Exemption for monetary policy. 
‘‘807. Effective date of certain rules. 
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‘‘§ 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 clas-
sification specifically addressing each criteria for a 
major rule contained within sections 804(2)(A), 
804(2)(B), and 804(2)(C); 
‘‘(iv) a list of any other related regulatory ac-
tions intended to implement the same statutory pro-
vision or regulatory objective as well as the indi-
vidual and aggregate economic effects of those ac-
tions; 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 
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the rule shall submit to the Comptroller General and make 
available to each House of Congress— 
‘‘(i) a complete copy of the cost-benefit analysis 
of the rule, if any, including an analysis of any jobs 
added or lost, differentiating between public and pri-
vate sector jobs; 
‘‘(ii) the agency’s actions pursuant to sections 
603, 604, 605, 607, and 609 of this title; 
‘‘(iii) the agency’s actions pursuant to sections 
202, 203, 204, and 205 of the Unfunded Mandates 
Reform Act of 1995; and 
‘‘(iv) any other relevant information or require-
ments under any other Act and any relevant Execu-
tive orders. 
‘‘(C) Upon receipt of a report submitted under sub-
paragraph (A), each House shall provide copies of the re-
port to the chairman and ranking member of each stand-
ing committee with jurisdiction under the rules of the 
House of Representatives or the Senate to report a bill 
to amend the provision of law under which the rule is 
issued. 
‘‘(2)(A) The Comptroller General shall provide a re-
port on each major rule to the committees of jurisdiction 
by the end of 15 calendar days after the submission or 
publication date. The report of the Comptroller General 
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shall include an assessment of the agency’s compliance 
with procedural steps required by paragraph (1)(B) and 
an assessment of whether the major rule imposes any new 
limits or mandates on private-sector activity. 
‘‘(B) Federal agencies shall cooperate with the Comp-
troller General by providing information relevant to the 
Comptroller General’s report under subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(3) A major rule relating to a report submitted 
under paragraph (1) shall take effect upon enactment of 
a joint resolution of approval described in section 802 or 
as provided for in the rule following enactment of a joint 
resolution of approval described in section 802, whichever 
is later. 
‘‘(4) A nonmajor rule shall take effect as provided 
by section 803 after submission to Congress under para-
graph (1). 
‘‘(5) If a joint resolution of approval relating to a 
major rule is not enacted within the period provided in 
subsection (b)(2), then a joint resolution of approval relat-
ing to the same rule may not be considered under this 
chapter in the same Congress by either the House of Rep-
resentatives or the Senate. 
‘‘(b)(1) A major rule shall not take effect unless the 
Congress enacts a joint resolution of approval described 
under section 802. 
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‘‘(2) If a joint resolution described in subsection (a) 
is not enacted into law by the end of 70 session days or 
legislative days, as applicable, beginning on the date on 
which the report referred to in section 801(a)(1)(A) is re-
ceived by Congress (excluding days either House of Con-
gress is adjourned for more than 3 days during a session 
of Congress), then the rule described in that resolution 
shall be deemed not to be approved and such rule shall 
not take effect. 
‘‘(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 Con-
gress. 
‘‘(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. 
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