Congress Passes Bill That Would Let It Block Groups Of Last-Minute Regulations As President Leaves Office

Bill Passed

Congress has passed a bill that would allow it to deny government agencies, including the FCC, from passing regulations in the last 60 legislative days in the final year of a President's term.  Under HR 5982, the Midnight Rules Relief Act of 2016, Congress could invalidate last-minute agency regulatory action in groups via resolutions rather than one at a time.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. DARRELL ISSA (R-CA), was passed THURSDAY (11/17) in a 240-179 vote after three amendments were rejected. The law is seen by opponents as targeted at blocking President OBAMA's administration from passing regulations as they leave office; the OBAMA administration has signaled that the President will veto the bill if it reaches his desk, and his office has called the bill unnecessary because Congress can already disapprove rules on a case-by-case basis. 

The bill will now go to the Senate for consideration.

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