Central South Dakota News

U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) recently introduced a bipartisan resolution to address federal overregulation in America. The Regulation Sensibility Through Oversight Restoration (RESTORE) Resolution of 2024 aims to establish a Joint Select Committee to review rules enacted by federal agencies and explore the feasibility of creating a rules review process in Congress. The committee would also hold hearings on the effects of these rules and recommend ways to reduce the regulatory burden on Americans.

“The Founding Fathers never intended for unelected bureaucrats in D.C. to make rules and regulations, enforceable as law, that circumvent the will of Congress. In the wake of Chevron being overturned by the Supreme Court, the time is now to address federal overregulation,” said Rounds. “In an effort to rein in the federal government, this bipartisan bill would provide a rules review of the most burdensome rules like Waters of the United States (WOTUS). The review process would hear these cases and would have the ability to sunset or repeal.”

In June, The Supreme Court overturned Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council which had allowed federal agencies to interpret ambiguous statutes. Now, courts should rely on their own interpretation of ambiguous laws, not federal agencies. For more than 40 years while Chevron was in effect, it was cited by federal courts more than 18,000 times.

Every year, there are between 3,000 – 4,500 final rules issued by more than 50 federal agencies. This bill would give a comprehensive review of existing and new rules proposed that cost $50 million or more.

The RESTORE Resolution proposes creating a Joint Select Committee consisting of members from both the Senate and House of Representatives. The committee's tasks include:

- Analyzing the feasibility of a permanent joint rules review committee.

- Reviewing all rules causing an annual impact on the economy of $50 million or more before enactment.

- Delaying rule imposition for review by the Permanent Joint Rules Review Committee.

- Requiring each federal agency to submit proposed rules over $50 million for congressional review before enactment.

- Conducting systematic reviews of enacted agency rules.

- Holding hearings on current rule effects and seeking ways to reduce regulatory overreach.

- Submitting recommendations for sunsetting overly burdensome or unnecessary rules.

- Proposing processes for agencies to submit pre-enactment rule reviews by Congress.

- Recommending methods for reducing financial burdens imposed by regulations on American families.

- Advising whether Congress should overturn misaligned rules via joint resolutions of disapproval.

- Listing repealable rules.

Original cosponsors for the RESTORE Resolution include Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), and Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.).