I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7922 
To minimize increases in the cost of complying with Federal rules during 
the coronavirus pandemic, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
AUGUST 4, 2020 
Mr. COMER (for himself, Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana, Mr. ARMSTRONG, Mr. 
CLOUD, Ms. FOXX of North Carolina, Mr. NORMAN, Mr. GREEN of Ten-
nessee, and Mr. KELLER) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and in addition to the 
Committee on the Judiciary, 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 minimize increases in the cost of complying with Federal 
rules during the coronavirus pandemic, and for other 
purposes. 
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 ‘‘Pandemic Regulatory 
Cost Relief Act of 2020’’. 
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SEC. 2. PROHIBITION AGAINST INCREASING REGULATORY 
COMPLIANCE COSTS DURING CORONAVIRUS 
PANDEMIC. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—A Federal rule for which an agen-
cy has estimated the costs of compliance may not be pro-
mulgated during the covered period if such rule increases 
the total Federal regulatory compliance costs for the class 
of entities to be subject to the rule, unless— 
(1) such increase is offset by a corresponding 
rescission of rules that reduces the total Federal reg-
ulatory compliance cost for that class of entities by 
an equal or greater amount; or 
(2) the Director of the Office of Management 
and Budget— 
(A) determines— 
(i) that no such corresponding rescis-
sion of rules is available to be made; or 
(ii) the rule is necessary for the pro-
tection of— 
(I) public health against the 
coronavirus pandemic; or 
(II) national security; and 
(B) publishes a notice to that effect in the 
Federal Register at the time the rule is promul-
gated. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
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(1) 
CORONAVIRUS
PANDEMIC.—The 
term 
‘‘coronavirus pandemic’’ means the SARS–CoV–2 
pandemic of 2019–2020. 
(2) COVERED PERIOD.—The term ‘‘covered pe-
riod’’ means the period that— 
(A) begins on the date of the enactment of 
this section; and 
(B) ends on the date that is 1 year after 
the date on which the public health emergency 
declared under section 319 of the Public Health 
Services Act (42 U.S.C. 247d) as a result of the 
coronavirus pandemic expires, or any renewal 
thereof. 
(3) REGULATORY
COMPLIANCE
COST.—The 
term ‘‘regulatory compliance cost’’ means any direct 
cost, and any reasonably foreseeable indirect cost 
(including revenue lost), of complying with a Federal 
rule. 
(4) RULE.—The term ‘‘rule’’ has the meaning 
given that term in section 551 of title 5, United 
States Code. 
Æ 
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