Midnight Rules Relief Act of 2021 (H.R. 61; 117th Congress)

117th CONGRESS 1st Session

To amend chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, to provide for en bloc consideration in resolutions of disapproval for “midnight rules”, and for other purposes.

Mr. Biggs introduced the following bill; which was 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 such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

To amend chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, to provide for en bloc consideration in resolutions of disapproval for “midnight rules”, and for other purposes.


 * Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Midnight Rules Relief Act of 2021”.

SEC. 2. EN BLOC CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTIONS OF DISAPPROVAL PERTAINING TO “MIDNIGHT RULES”.

 * (a) In General.—Section 801(d) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:


 * “(4) In applying section 802 to rules described under paragraph (1), a joint resolution of disapproval may contain one or more such rules if the report under subsection (a)(1)(A) for each such rule was submitted during the final year of a President’s term.”.


 * (b) Text Of Resolving Clause.—Section 802(a) of title 5, United States Code, is amended—


 * (1) by inserting after “resolving clause of which is” the following: “(except as otherwise provided in this subsection)”; and


 * (2) by adding at the end the following: “In the case of a joint resolution under section 801(d)(4), the matter after the resolving clause of such resolution shall be as follows: ‘That Congress disapproves the following rules: the rule submitted by the __ relating to __; and the rule submitted by the __ relating to __. Such rules shall have no force or effect.’ (The blank spaces being appropriately filled in and additional clauses describing additional rules to be included as necessary)”.