Press Releases
The Republican Recap: Week of December 16, 2024
Washington,
December 21, 2024
Here’s a recap of what Republicans achieved on the House Floor this week:
Increasing Efficiency in Congressional Disapproval of Overreaching Rules ✅ When the Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution and set up our government, they separated powers between the three branches to prevent too much concentration of power in one department, vesting legislative power in Congress, executive power in the President, and judicial power in the courts. This separation created a system of checks and balances, allowing the branches to hold each other accountable and prevent any one from amassing too much power with their counteracting ambition. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, however, federal agencies are running rampant, expanding their authority by assuming the powers of the legislative and judicial branches, in addition to their executive powers, through rulemaking. To check this overreach, the Congressional Review Act (CRA) allows Congress to disapprove of agency rules by passing a joint resolution, effectively vetoing dangerous regulations; however, currently, the CRA demands Congress pass a separate joint resolution for each rule it needs to disapprove – slowing Congress’ ability to inhibit burdensome agency rules. This is especially disrupting at the end of a President’s term, when agencies historically issue many more regulations than previous years, called “midnight rulemaking,” making it even more difficult for Congress to review and disapprove the agencies’ rules. It is the constitutional purview of Congress to legislate – not federal agencies. By allowing unelected bureaucrats at these agencies to make laws, the power of the American public to hold their government accountable is completely undermined. We can’t let agencies expand their power without limit. H.R. 115, the Midnight Rules Relief Act, sponsored by Rep. Andy Biggs, amends the Congressional Review Act to allow Congress to disapprove multiple rules through one joint resolution if those rules were issued during the last year of a President’s term in office. “The House’s passage of Midnight Rules Relief Act will make it easier for Congress to check unelected bureaucrats in the Biden-Harris Administration who have been frantically writing new federal rules before the end of their reign. The bill will help the legislature work with President Trump to restore the balance of power in the federal government. Americans demanded change—it’s time to rein in the administrative state,” said Rep. Andy Biggs. What Members Said: “These ‘midnight rules’ are rushed through without sufficient review, public input, or thorough consideration of their economic impact, and they’re politically motivated policies that may not reflect the will of the American people or the incoming administration. This bill addresses the problem by extending the window for congressional review of regulations after an administration's final year. It's vital because it would allow Congress to undo the onerous rule making of the Biden Administration here in the last days,” said Rep. Ben Cline. “It's about ensuring transparency and accountability in our regulatory process. It's about giving the American people a voice through their elected representatives – note, their elected representatives – preventing regulatory overreach by the vast bureaucracy and protecting our economy from last minute policies that could have lasting impact on tax paying Americans.”
Rep. Celeste Maloy highlighted that H.R. 115 allows the House to disapprove of rules issued during the last year of a President's term more efficiently, hold agencies accountable, and prevent federal overreach.
 Rep. Chuck Edwards outlined how H.R. 115 maintains our principle of checks and balances and holds the administrative state accountable.
 Rep. Doug LaMalfa emphasized how H.R. 115 makes it easier to roll back harmful regulations imposed during the final stretch of an administration, putting legislative power back in the hands of Congress.
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