WASHINGTON — Following the Supreme Court’s Chevron Deference ruling, Congressman Burgess Owens (UT-04) co-sponsored the Sunset Chevron Act, which would force executive agency rules that were upheld by Chevron Deference to sunset after a designated period of time if not passed into law by Congress.
Chevron deference—the doctrine of judicial deference to agency interpretation of the law—has empowered rogue agencies to frequently twist and exceed Congressional intent, resulting in unelected and unaccountable bureaucrats exceeding Congressional intent and controlling the lives of Americans. The Chevron Sunset Act requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to list all such rules still in effect, which will then sunset every 30 days on a rolling basis unless reapproved by Congress.
“In the wake of the Supreme Court’s landmark Chevron Deference decision, the Sunset Chevron Act is essential to restoring the balance of power envisioned by our Founding Fathers,” said Rep. Owens. “For too long, executive agencies have wielded unchecked authority, resulting in regulations that impact Americans’ lives without proper legislative oversight. This bill ensures that any rule with the force of law receives the scrutiny and approval of Congress, where according to our Constitution, the power to make laws belongs. By sunsetting these agency rules unless they are strengthened by Congressional action, we can correct past overreach and ensure power remains with We the People—not unelected bureaucrats.”
Background:
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 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.
The Sunset Chevron Act has been endorsed by the National Taxpayer Union.
The full legislative text is available here.
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