Regulatory Accountability Act of 2015
This bill amends the Administrative Procedure Act to revise and expand the requirements for federal agency rulemaking by requiring agencies, in making a rule, to base all preliminary and final factual determinations on evidence and to consider the legal authority under which the rule may be proposed, the specific nature and significance of the problem the agency may address with the rule, any reasonable alternatives for the rule, and the potential costs and benefits associated with such alternatives.
The bill requires agencies to publish advance notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register for major rules and for high-impact rules (rules having an annual cost on the economy of $100 million or $1 billion or more, respectively) and for negative-impact on jobs and wages rules and those that involve a novel legal or policy issue arising out of statutory mandates. The notice must include a written statement identifying the nature and significance of the problem the agency may address with a rule, the legal authority under which the rule may be proposed, the nature of and potential reasons to adopt a novel legal or policy position, and a solicitation for written data, views, or arguments from interested persons.
Additionally, the bill: (1) sets forth criteria for issuing major guidance (agency guidance that is likely to lead to an annual cost on the economy of $100 million or more, a major increase in cost or prices, or significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or ability to compete) or guidance that involves a novel legal or policy issue arising out of statutory mandates; and (2) expands the scope of judicial review of agency rulemaking by allowing immediate review of rulemaking not in compliance with notice requirements and establishing a substantial evidence standard for affirming agency rulemaking decisions.
| Action Date | Type | Text | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-01-16 | IntroReferral | Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. | Senate |
| 2015-01-13 | Floor | Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. | House floor actions |
| 2015-01-13 | Vote | On passage Passed by recorded vote: 250 - 175 (Roll no. 28). | House floor actions |
| 2015-01-13 | Vote | On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 180 - 245 (Roll no. 27). | House floor actions |
| 2015-01-13 | Floor | The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection. (consideration: CR H271) | House floor actions |
| 2015-01-13 | Floor | DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Rice (NY) motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment to add a section to the bill prohibiting the application of any rules or guidance by the Act or amendments that prevent terrorism and crime; protect wages of workers; save tax dollars; provide assistance to small business; or prevent discrimination. | House floor actions |
| 2015-01-13 | Floor | Miss Rice (NY) moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on the Judiciary. (consideration: CR H270-271; text: CR H270) | House floor actions |
| 2015-01-13 | Floor | The House adopted the amendment as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. | House floor actions |
| 2015-01-13 | Floor | The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 185. | House floor actions |
| 2015-01-13 | Floor | UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on adoption of amendments, which had been debated earlier, and on which further proceedings had been postponed. | House floor actions |
| 2015-01-13 | Floor | POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Connolly amendment, the Chair put t he question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Connolly demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day. | House floor actions |
| 2015-01-13 | Floor | DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 27, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Connolly Part A amendment No. 4. | House floor actions |
| 2015-01-13 | Floor | POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Jackson Lee amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Jackson Lee demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day. | House floor actions |
| 2015-01-13 | Floor | DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 27, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jackson Lee Part A amendment No. 3. | House floor actions |
| 2015-01-13 | Floor | POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Johnson (GA) amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Johnson (GA) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day. | House floor actions |
| 2015-01-13 | Floor | DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 27, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Johnson (GA) Part A amendment No. 2. | House floor actions |
| 2015-01-13 | Floor | POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the McKinley amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. McKinely demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day. | House floor actions |
| 2015-01-13 | Floor | DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 27, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the McKinley Part A amendment No. 1. | House floor actions |
| 2015-01-13 | Floor | GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 185. | House floor actions |
| 2015-01-13 | Floor | The Speaker designated the Honorable Lynn A. Westmoreland to act as Chairman of the Committee. | House floor actions |
| 2015-01-13 | Floor | House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 27 and Rule XVIII. | House floor actions |
| 2015-01-13 | Floor | All points of order against consideration of the bills are waived. H.R. 37 H.R. 185 shall be debatable for 1 hour, and H.R. 240 shall be debatable for 2 hours the previous question considered orderedwithout intervening motions except one motion to recommit. For H.R. 185, only those amendments printed in Part A of the report shall be in order. For H.R. 240, only those amendments printed in Part B of the report shall be in order. | House floor actions |
| 2015-01-13 | Floor | Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 27. (consideration: CR H249-272; text of measure as introduced: CR H256-260) | House floor actions |
| 2015-01-12 | Floor | Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 27 Reported to House. All points of order against consideration of the bills are waived. H.R. 37 H.R. 185 shall be debatable for 1 hour, and H.R. 240 shall be debatable for 2 hours the previous question considered ordered without intervening motions except one motion to recommit. For H.R. 185, only those amendments printed in Part A of the report shall be in order. For H.R. 240, only those amendments printed in Part B of the report shall be in order. in Part B of the report shall be in order. | House floor actions |
| 2015-01-12 | Committee | Referred to the Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial And Antitrust Law. | House committee actions |
| 2015-01-07 | IntroReferral | Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. | House floor actions |
| 2015-01-07 | IntroReferral | Introduced in House | Library of Congress |