“Sunset Chevron:” Rep. Green’s Bill Reins In Administrative State

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

"Sunset Chevron:" Rep. Green's Bill Reins In Administrative State

WASHINGTON-Today, Rep. Mark Green introducedhis first bill in the 119th Congress-the Sunset Chevron Act, which overturns executive agency rules upheld by Chevron Deference unless they are voted into law by Congress. According to the American Action Forum, Federal agencies collectively finalized$1.4 trillion in net regulatory costs in 2024, making it far and away the costliest year recorded since 2005.

Rep. Green said, "Chevron deference was always outside the realm of Constitutional authority. Congressional intent should be the most important tool of interpretation when there is ambiguity in the law. The one thing we don't need is federal bureaucrats manipulating laws to fit their political agenda. The overturning of the Chevron doctrine will keep unelected bureaucrats from running rogue in the future, but we must reverse four decades of constitutional malfeasance.

Rep. Green continued, "This legislation returns lawmaking power to Congress. Forcing these Chevron decisions to gradually sunset will restore checks and balances to our Constitutional system and cut red tape to help get our economy back on track."

Nick Johns, Senior Policy and Government Affairs Manager, National Taxpayers Union said,"National Taxpayers Union applauds Rep. Mark Green for introducing the Sunset Chevron Act. The growth of the administrative state's regulatory red tape continues to stifle the economy and this legislation would help dissolve these roadblocks to prosperity. By creating an automatic mechanism to roll back rules upheld under Chevron doctrine unless Congress acts, this legislation is the fastest way to remove bad regulations while restoring Congressional authority."

Advancing American Freedom's General Counsel Marc Wheat said, "For almost forty years, Chevron deference allowed executive branch agencies to upend the constitutional framework by writing law unchecked by Congress. Rep. Mark Green's Sunset Chevron Act would unwind all previously upheld Chevron rules that are now skating on unconstitutional ice. Congress should immediately advance this legislation to restore our constitutional order."

This bill was cosponsored by Reps. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Ryan Zinke (R-MT), Clay Higgins (R-LA), Mike Collins (R-GA), Burgess Owens (R-UT), David Rouzer (R-NC), and Michael Cloud (R-TX).

The National Taxpayers Union, Advancing American Freedom, and Heritage Action for America have endorsed The Sunset Chevron Act.

Read the text of the bill here.

Background:

This billrequires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to compile a list of executive agency actions that have been upheld by Chevron deference. These actions begin sunsetting every 30 days on a rolling basis unless they are upheld by Congressional action. Agency rules will sunset in reverse chronological order so that the newest rules sunset first. This legislation also makes an exception to the 60 legislative day restriction on filing a Congressional Review Act (CRA) for rules upheld by the Chevron doctrine, giving lawmakers more time to challenge executive agency rules and regulations, even those that are decades old.

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