Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of…
The Reclaim the Reins Act amends chapter 8 of title 5, U.S. Code, to add new reporting, review, and approval procedures for federal agency rules. It requires agencies to provide detailed budgetary, cost, jobs, inflation, and legal-authority information; expands the definition of "rule" to include guidance and interpretive rules; and creates pathways for congressional approval or disapproval, including requiring Congress to approve major rules that increase revenues.
Progressives emphasize risk to public protections and politicization
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a clearly substantive set of amendments to the Administrative Procedure Act (chapter 8 of title 5) that establishes new reporting requirements, congressional approval procedures for certain rules, annual review and potential sunsetting of existing rules, and a GAO study.
The Reclaim the Reins Act amends chapter 8 of title 5, U.S. Code, to add new reporting, review, and approval procedures for federal agency rules.
It requires agencies to provide detailed budgetary, cost, jobs, inflation, and legal-authority information; expands the definition of "rule" to include guidance and interpretive rules; and creates pathways for congressional approval or disapproval, including requiring Congress to approve major rules that increase revenues.
The bill mandates annual agency reviews of existing rules, potential automatic expiration of rules not approved by Congress, GAO determinations on rule status upon member request, and funds OMB and GAO to implement these changes.
A sweeping reallocation of rulemaking power that creates legislative-approval hooks and mass review/sunset risks substantial political, procedural, and legal obstacles.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a clearly substantive set of amendments to the Administrative Procedure Act (chapter 8 of title 5) that establishes new reporting requirements, congressional approval procedures for certain rules, annual review and potential sunsetting of existing rules, and a GAO study. It provides specific appropriations and assigns responsibilities to OMB and the Comptroller General, and it integrates with existing statutory framework through targeted amendments and cross-references.
Progressives emphasize risk to public protections and politicization
These are examples from the analysis, not a ranked list of the most-affected groups.
Progressives emphasize risk to public protections and politicization
This persona would likely view the bill as a significant expansion of congressional control over agency policymaking that risks delaying or blocking public protections.
They would be concerned the bill increases political review of technical rules and subjects guidance to the same burdens as notice-and-comment rulemaking.
They would worry about impacts on environmental, health, labor, and civil-rights safeguards.
A centrist would likely find useful elements in the bill—greater transparency and congressional visibility—while worrying about operational feasibility and separation-of-powers tensions.
They would be cautious about the 90-day/automatic-expiration mechanics and the practical burden on agencies to produce granular economic and jobs estimates.
They would seek compromises to limit disruption and avoid blocking noncontroversial rules.
This persona would likely view the bill favorably as restoring congressional authority over the administrative state and limiting regulatory overreach.
They would welcome requirements that major, revenue-raising rules obtain explicit congressional approval and the inclusion of guidance within chapter 8.
They would see annual reviews and potential sunset as tools to reduce outdated regulations.
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Still ahead
Still ahead
Still ahead
A sweeping reallocation of rulemaking power that creates legislative-approval hooks and mass review/sunset risks substantial political, procedural, and legal obstacles.
The bill has not accumulated any surfaced votes yet.
Progressives emphasize risk to public protections and politicization
A sweeping reallocation of rulemaking power that creates legislative-approval hooks and mass review/sunset risks substantial political, pro…
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a clearly substantive set of amendments to the Administrative Procedure Act (chapter 8 of title 5) that establishes new reporting requirements, congressional appro…
Go beyond the headline summary with full stakeholder mapping, legislative design analysis, passage barriers, and lens-by-lens tradeoff breakdowns.