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<dc:title>117 S4055 IS: Locating the Inefficiencies of Bureaucratic Edicts to Reform And Transform the Economy Act</dc:title>
<dc:publisher>U.S. Senate</dc:publisher>
<dc:date>2022-04-07</dc:date>
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<distribution-code display="yes">II</distribution-code><congress>117th CONGRESS</congress><session>2d Session</session><legis-num>S. 4055</legis-num><current-chamber>IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES</current-chamber><action><action-date date="20220407">April 7, 2022</action-date><action-desc><sponsor name-id="S346">Mr. Lee</sponsor> (for himself, <cosponsor name-id="S355">Mr. Cruz</cosponsor>, <cosponsor name-id="S397">Mr. Braun</cosponsor>, <cosponsor name-id="S404">Mr. Scott of Florida</cosponsor>, and <cosponsor name-id="S345">Mr. Johnson</cosponsor>) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the <committee-name committee-id="SSGA00">Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs</committee-name></action-desc></action><legis-type>A BILL</legis-type><official-title>To establish a task force for regulatory oversight and review.</official-title></form><legis-body><section id="id476F282B08404E1785BEB9E708418612" section-type="section-one"><enum>1.</enum><header>Short title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This Act may be cited as the <quote><short-title>Locating the Inefficiencies of Bureaucratic Edicts to Reform And Transform the Economy Act</short-title></quote> or the <quote><short-title>LIBERATE Act</short-title></quote>.</text></section><section id="id1744DB1D9BA44D329DE47EE8DD3F81A4"><enum>2.</enum><header>Regulatory Oversight and Review Task Force</header><subsection id="id738233160D24482D941AC09FA6487F44"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>There is established a task force to be known as the <quote>Regulatory Oversight and Review Task Force</quote> (referred to in this section as the <term>Task Force</term>).</text></subsection><subsection id="id464997B043F748A2854C8A5DD159352D"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Membership</header><paragraph id="id5C918CF24C554CC89DF2E34783B38F35"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Task Force shall be composed of—</text><subparagraph id="id2ea1e0d90bfd429093daf11409fb8c0f"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, who shall serve as the Chairperson of the Task Force and shall be a non-voting, ex officio member of the Task Force;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf00c3c38e4eb41fd8343a07e813d760a"><enum>(B)</enum><text>1 representative of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, who shall be a non-voting, ex officio member of the Task Force; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idca2ae2e32a18465d94447a818bf32339"><enum>(C)</enum><text>16 individuals from the private sector, of whom—</text><clause id="id117E11F05B024F5AB3EC10C42C93C4F2"><enum>(i)</enum><text>4 shall be appointed by the majority leader of the Senate;</text></clause><clause id="id67DD19A6C1DC454DAA3B71CD3C2D2D6F"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>4 shall be appointed by the minority leader of the Senate;</text></clause><clause id="id32826686E7514A859629AB2DD116310A"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>4 shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and</text></clause><clause id="idF20A7AB5176E4F67A46BDEDD1D328E03"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>4 shall be appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id268051f37a3d4266b05b889756a5ecaa"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Qualifications of private sector members</header><subparagraph id="id00B498AC01404A50B4C3381B9B4CA862"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Expertise</header><text>Each member of the Task Force appointed under paragraph (1)(C) shall be an individual with expertise in Federal regulatory policy, Federal regulatory compliance, economics, law, or business management.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idD5CA9C5E90BF4AC4B847C26C9CBE935A"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Small business concerns</header><text>Not fewer than 2 of the members of the Task Force appointed under each clause of paragraph (1)(C) shall be representatives of a small business concern, as defined in section 3 of the Small Business Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/632">15 U.S.C. 632</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idCBB1120E6CAD43FF90081D407A3D26F6"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Political affiliation</header><text>Not more than 2 of the members of the Task Force appointed under each clause of paragraph (1)(C) may be affiliated with the same political party.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id8435DBFA5D5B4BD8BAB46E9A4E002F60"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Consultation with GAO</header><text>In carrying out its functions under this section, the Task Force shall consult with the Government Accountability Office.</text></subsection><subsection id="id61FD324E4FD44D61B8B9A62B7D43F9F7"><enum>(d)</enum><header>No compensation</header><text>A member of the Task Force may not receive any compensation for serving on the Task Force.</text></subsection><subsection id="idA629E1E68D4A4987B221B590B99A3579"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Staff</header><paragraph id="idB6AAFF438E58409594FB250CB72AF943"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Designation of existing staff</header><text>The Director of the Office of Management and Budget may designate employees of the Office of Management and Budget, including employees of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, as necessary to help the Task Force carry out its duties under this section.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idA39E7D159FB0476DB34495669A29CABE"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Rule of construction</header><text>Nothing in paragraph (1) shall be construed to authorize the provision of any additional compensation to an employee designated under that paragraph.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id0F57AA002A954FE784481193115AA61B"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Evaluation of regulations and guidance</header><text>The Task Force shall evaluate, and provide recommendations for modification, consolidation, harmonization, or repeal of, Federal regulations or guidance that—</text><paragraph id="id93c61cf476e84b0587329b03b50878e1"><enum>(1)</enum><text>exclude or otherwise inhibit competition, causing industries of the United States to be less competitive with global competitors;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id555cb220cfce4a4282616a60b77fac9c"><enum>(2)</enum><text>create barriers to entry for United States businesses, including entrepreneurs and startups;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id824d1710101146b99567081028ef6500"><enum>(3)</enum><text>increase the operating costs for domestic manufacturing;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id1eaeed3053194329b24316c8047619ae"><enum>(4)</enum><text>impose substantial compliance costs and other burdens on industries of the United States, making those industries less competitive with global competitors;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id9203abf1f5294722b830d1c501a3f698"><enum>(5)</enum><text>impose burdensome and lengthy permitting processes and requirements;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id6434d1a5221c49cfa3ddefb7634711df"><enum>(6)</enum><text>impact energy production by United States businesses and make the United States dependent on foreign countries for energy supply;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id928e37d74bf94ebcba6b582a666e2960"><enum>(7)</enum><text>restrict domestic mining, including the mining of critical minerals; or</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id1428ca57b2504609be017f7738423b11"><enum>(8)</enum><text>inhibit capital formation in the economy of the United States.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id49017f9e240d45068d499a6ae21c3a26"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Website</header><text>The Task Force shall establish and maintain a user-friendly, public-facing website to be—</text><paragraph id="idF06ADA57046144E9A259832E804C23D7"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a portal for the submission of written comments under subsection (i); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id57091A4703DB49D7B8164D1A370E963A"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a gateway for reports and key information.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idc67942dcc1d047fba947eb8bf225dccb"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Duty of Federal agencies</header><text>Upon request of the Task Force, a Federal agency shall provide applicable documents and information to help the Task Force carry out its functions under this section.</text></subsection><subsection id="idc22a504b3797406cad89d754e25645e6"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Written recommendations</header><paragraph id="id5560C0A7EEEB4101B18AE85F60F5C729"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text> Not later than 15 days after the first meeting of the Task Force, the Task Force shall initiate a process to solicit and collect written recommendations regarding regulations or guidance described in subsection (f) from the general public, interested parties, Federal agencies, and other relevant entities.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id9bf0fab507fe44a49c180433a665f078"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Manner of submission</header><text>The Task Force shall allow written recommendations under paragraph (1) to be submitted through—</text><subparagraph id="idE0225FB6707F459DBE9C16902A969C78"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the website of the Task Force;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idBDC5250519E847C795E90A8F00C3D8F1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>regulations.gov;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idF8890A717C8747BBABDAB073D039CACF"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the mail; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idF4A135FAF8EA45FBAE7533062C2FEDB2"><enum>(D)</enum><text>other appropriate written means.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id7e483a973e094a97b476d57fb68fba10"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Publication</header><text>The Task Force shall publish each recommendation submitted under paragraph (1)—</text><subparagraph id="idC703D99D75B847B4A1DCC903B289E31E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the Federal Register;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3AAF11650E6446398DE74780244DAF90"><enum>(B)</enum><text>on the website of the Task Force; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id22AB15A4D9C94B358785954DB192848F"><enum>(C)</enum><text>on regulations.gov.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id1f326a44d8df48ab872c48de07914579"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Public outreach</header><text>In addition to soliciting and collecting written recommendations under paragraph (1),<italic></italic> the Task Force shall conduct public outreach and convene focus groups in geographically diverse areas throughout the United States to solicit feedback and public comments regarding regulations or guidance described in subsection (f).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id6ef6a99b15c74502894d207865286bec"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Review and consideration</header><text>The Task Force shall review the information received under paragraphs (1) and (4) and consider including that information in the reports and special message required under subsections (j) and (k), respectively.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idc5a889137a2f486082d6d44da7482396"><enum>(j)</enum><header>Reports</header><paragraph id="idB7FFAF4545E5498DA56EF8B973D3DF26"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Task Force shall submit quarterly and annual reports to Congress on the findings of the Task Force under this section.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id20686D2C7F544E99835030E402AFF0BE"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>Each report submitted under paragraph (1) shall—</text><subparagraph id="id5D88FE8D1DB74A11A221BE21FB992951"><enum>(A)</enum><text>analyze the Federal regulations or guidance identified in accordance with subsection (f); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id66A29911A54046DCBC59EDA4274069F9"><enum>(B)</enum><text>provide recommendations for modifications, consolidation, harmonization, and repeal of the regulations or guidance described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idF32A2815B51B41DBBFAE67D315296726"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Majority vote required</header><text>The Task Force may only include a finding or recommendation in a report submitted under paragraph (1) if a majority of the members of the Task Force have approved the finding or recommendation.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id40bf21fd7317447a898b253913cd18e4"><enum>(k)</enum><header>Special message to Congress</header><paragraph id="id9B78E6600C884CDABD84312B02A2F40E"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Definition</header><text>In this subsection, the term <term>covered resolution</term> means a joint resolution—</text><subparagraph id="iddb872d0d948d4a7388c227d7785e1991"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the matter after the resolving clause of which contains only—</text><clause id="id4a0f499b462442d898836ab43144f38e" commented="no"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a list of some or all of the regulations or guidance that were recommended for repeal in a special message submitted to Congress under paragraph (2); and</text></clause><clause id="idda5194d7fdaa4798b7d0de6032d354fc" commented="no"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a provision that immediately repeals the listed regulations or guidance upon enactment of the joint resolution; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9742506fdea3463aa7d834073f404b3c"><enum>(B)</enum><text>upon which Congress completes action before the end of the first period of 60 calendar days after the date on which the special message described in subparagraph (A)(i) of this paragraph is received by Congress.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id624A06C8B6F94519B3BF8EEE75B6DC5B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Submission</header><subparagraph id="id65323BA3B2574784A7AD28E9C2BC10F1"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than the first day on which both Houses of Congress are in session after May 1 of each year, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall submit to Congress, on behalf of the Task Force, a special message that—</text><clause id="id74AA9EE96E2144F182C17E624D4D98D5"><enum>(i)</enum><text>details each regulation or guidance document that the Task Force recommends for repeal; and</text></clause><clause id="idAE8A44BE202846D080154AE2D5FEFC0E"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>explains why each regulation or guidance document should be repealed.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1bd3fe4bf4324a23853a4f996b2cf6f3"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Delivery to House and Senate; printing</header><text>Each special message submitted under subparagraph (A) shall be—</text><clause id="id08A7DA92235849ABAE1BFF267EB5E715"><enum>(i)</enum><text>delivered to the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate; and</text></clause><clause id="id852C916A15AF45219619E839ECBE1C44"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>printed in the Congressional Record.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id2302F1F0E4B84EA689AA06B3527E3E4D"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Procedure in House and Senate</header><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDF76F5FB44FE44D2F85F6C94B23EE1C34"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Referral</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A covered resolution shall be referred to the appropriate committee of the House of Representatives or the Senate, as the case may be.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID1C54165E267846BCA1724DAE4B395063"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Discharge of committee</header><text>If the committee to which a covered resolution has been referred has not reported the resolution at the end of 25 calendar days after the introduction of the resolution—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4982631897AB4549848EFE347DB9548B"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the committee shall be discharged from further consideration of the resolution; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD6F86B98D4CE4397993CCA9FDA266571"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the resolution shall be placed on the appropriate calendar.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID78018984C67243FEA855C825445EB654"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Floor consideration in the House</header><subparagraph id="IDCA556178072E47D3935130A09699A50B"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Motion to proceed</header><clause id="idC76E6C8491E146F18B67E69E6AC16C9E"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>When the committee of the House of Representatives has reported, or has been discharged from further consideration of, a covered resolution, it shall at any time thereafter be in order (even though a previous motion to the same effect has been disagreed to) to move to proceed to the consideration of the resolution.</text></clause><clause id="id5E7834CF22394BB8AF111F786E50C58C"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Privilege</header><text>A motion described in clause (i) shall be highly privileged and not debatable.</text></clause><clause id="idF607876E5A9746018FD3956D567C5A5D"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>No amendment or motion to reconsider</header><text>An amendment to a motion described in clause (i) shall not be in order, nor shall it be in order to move to reconsider the vote by which the motion is agreed to or disagreed to.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID68EF796B865F44A3A391B741D92822AC"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Debate</header><clause id="idFCCE009F97A24414A16360EA2F17DA47"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Debate in the House of Representatives on a covered resolution shall be limited to not more than 2 hours, which shall be divided equally between those favoring and those opposing the resolution.</text></clause><clause id="idF65397F3227C4651B5FE674BC68BEB27"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>No motion to reconsider</header><text>It shall not be in order in the House of Representatives to move to reconsider the vote by which a covered resolution is agreed to or disagreed to.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID3F36DC73441B4EEAA3D3918CE750276E"><enum>(C)</enum><header>No motion to postpone consideration or proceed to consideration of other business</header><text>In the House of Representatives, motions to postpone, made with respect to the consideration of a covered resolution, and motions to proceed to the consideration of other business, shall not be in order.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID699CD77C1B6043E2A7FB65555F4BCB94"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Appeals from decisions of chair</header><text>An appeal from the decision of the Chair relating to the application of the Rules of the House of Representatives to the procedure relating to a covered resolution shall be decided without debate.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID30E98251674044B08C35235D6459FCB4"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Floor consideration in the Senate</header><subparagraph id="idc48c2775d54943018b0ef99f4388817f"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Motion to proceed</header><clause id="id52308505ed774f7db335f01ae40bb4b2"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Notwithstanding Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, when the committee of the Senate to which a covered resolution is referred has reported, or has been discharged from further consideration of, a covered resolution, it shall at any time thereafter be in order (even though a previous motion to the same effect has been disagreed to) to move to proceed to the consideration of the resolution and all points of order against the covered resolution are waived.</text></clause><clause id="id6c9bcbe326b44f67943ad431f2c1f47e"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Division of time</header><text>A motion to proceed described in clause (i) is subject to 4 hours of debate divided equally between those favoring and those opposing the covered resolution.</text></clause><clause id="idB393335FC624457B947A3D84D95F249E"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>No amendment or motion to postpone or proceed to other business</header><text>A motion to proceed described in clause (i) is not subject to—</text><subclause id="id29D4EE687EB7484E86A958A2AE6E0800"><enum>(I)</enum><text>amendment;</text></subclause><subclause id="idCBF5977FC2B845EA9C810A6CCD50C1E7"><enum>(II)</enum><text>a motion to postpone; or</text></subclause><subclause id="idF50372400E6E4E04807DF84ABA6AFBF8"><enum>(III)</enum><text>a motion to proceed to the consideration of other business.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5660f3cdbaf9481dae04902786ba7b78"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Floor consideration</header><clause id="idde7231444a7b48e8a8ed8974c8ca55db"><enum>(i)</enum><header>General</header><text>In the Senate, a covered resolution shall be subject to 10 hours of debate divided equally between those favoring and those opposing the covered resolution.</text></clause><clause id="id20a43c24d8244e8598cea3dd11b01c41"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Amendments</header><text>In the Senate, no amendment to a covered resolution shall be in order, except an amendment that strikes from or adds to the list required under paragraph (1)(A)(i) a regulation or guidance document recommended for repeal by the Task Force.</text></clause><clause id="id0dc904d279694519a4f53e7fb6372885"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Motions and appeals</header><text>In the Senate, a motion to reconsider a vote on final passage of a covered resolution shall not be in order, and points of order, including questions of relevancy, and appeals from the decision of the Presiding Officer, shall be decided without debate.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id6b9fa9ea440d4e7c8402f184099901b4"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Receipt of resolution from other House</header><text>If, before passing a covered resolution, one House receives from the other a covered resolution—</text><subparagraph id="id1d8ef880952645859a5a7d294b5fb535"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the covered resolution of the other House shall not be referred to a committee and shall be deemed to have been discharged from committee on the day on which it is received; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="iddc4ad86ec3344f6cb5fb2874aac35900"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the procedures set forth in paragraph (4) or (5), as applicable, shall apply in the receiving House to the covered resolution received from the other House to the same extent as those procedures apply to a covered resolution of the receiving House.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id9521aa29a95d4f65ae11c00e23596f30"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Rules of the House of Representatives and the Senate</header><text>Paragraphs (3) through (7) are enacted by Congress—</text><subparagraph id="idcb6da74c78b94b74823ce53c2129a01a"><enum>(A)</enum><text>as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the House of Representatives and the Senate, respectively, and as such are deemed a part of the rules of each House, respectively, but applicable only with respect to the procedures to be followed in the House in the case of covered resolutions, and supersede other rules only to the extent that they are inconsistent with such other rules; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id60380ce63bf74c909d96d25774f8f0c3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>with full recognition of the constitutional right of either House to change the rules (so far as relating to the procedure of that House) at any time, in the same manner, and to the same extent as in the case of any other rule of that House.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id84F94E279F724B0AAE6C81C3CC4FCDA0"><enum>(l)</enum><header>Funding</header><paragraph id="idED4A804D02DC4FC9BF2ED6FE85D660F6"><enum>(1)</enum><header>No additional amounts authorized</header><text>No additional amounts are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id5F5CF970C5E249D1B7C3C78C47B15A87"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Other funding</header><text>The Task Force shall use amounts otherwise available to the Office of Management and Budget to carry out this section.</text></paragraph></subsection></section></legis-body></bill> 

