I 
113TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2997 
To require each agency to repeal two existing regulations before issuing 
a new regulation, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
AUGUST 2, 2013 
Mr. MCCAUL (for himself, Mr. WILLIAMS, Mr. THORNBERRY, Ms. JENKINS, 
Mr. CONAWAY, Mr. RICE of South Carolina, Mr. PEARCE, Mr. NEUGE-
BAUER, and Mr. COOK) introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition 
to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently deter-
mined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To require each agency to repeal two existing regulations 
before issuing a new regulation, 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 ‘‘One In, Two Out Act’’. 
SEC. 2. REPEAL OF REGULATIONS REQUIRED BEFORE 
ISSUANCE OF A NEW RULE. 
(1) REQUIREMENT FOR RULE.—An agency may 
not issue a rule unless such agency has repealed two 
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or more rules described in paragraph (4) that, to the 
extent practicable, are related to the rule. 
(2) REQUIREMENT FOR MAJOR RULE.— 
(A) REPEAL REQUIRED.—An agency may 
not issue a major rule unless— 
(i) such agency has repealed two or 
more rules described in paragraph (4) 
that, to the extent practicable, are related 
to the major rule; and 
(ii) the cost of the new major rule is 
less than or equal to the cost of the rules 
repealed. 
(B) CERTIFIED
COST.—For any rule 
issued in accordance with subparagraph (A), 
the Administrator of the Office of Information 
and Regulatory Affairs of the Office of Manage-
ment and Budget must have certified that the 
cost of the new major rule is equal to or less 
that the cost of the rules repealed. 
(3) PUBLICATION
REQUIRED.—Any rule re-
pealed under paragraph (1) or (2) shall be published 
in the Federal Register. 
(4) APPLICABILITY.—This section— 
(A) applies to any rule or major rule that 
imposes a cost or responsibility on a nongovern-
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mental person or a State or local government; 
and 
(B) shall not apply to any rule or major 
rule— 
(i) that relates to the internal policy 
or practice of an agency or procurement by 
the agency; or 
(ii) that is being revised to be less 
burdensome to decrease requirements im-
posed by the rule or cost of compliance. 
(5) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(A) AGENCY.—The term ‘‘agency’’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 551 of title 
5, United States Code. 
(B) MAJOR RULE.—The term ‘‘major rule’’ 
has the meaning given that term in section 804 
of title 5, United States Code. 
(C) RULE.—The term ‘‘rule’’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 551 of title 
5, United States Code. 
(D) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means 
each of the several States, the District of Co-
lumbia, each territory or possession of the 
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United States, and each federally recognized In-
dian tribe. 
Æ 
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