2023: Fitzpatrick Voted For An Amendment That Would Have Allowed Major
Rules To Go Into Effect If Congress Does Not Vote On A Joint Resolution
Nullifying Such Rule Within 70 Legislative Days. In June 2023,
according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for an amendment
to the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act of
2023, which would "allow a major rule to go into effect if Congress does
not vote on a joint resolution approving such a rule within 70
legislative days of receiving the relevant agency's report on the
rule." The vote was on the adoption of an amendment. The House rejected
the amendment by a vote of 213 to 221. [House Vote 260,
6/14/23; Congressional
Quarterly, 6/14/23;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
277;
Congressional Actions, H.Amdt.
200]
2023: Fitzpatrick Voted To Require Agency Rules To Be Initiated By
Senior Non-Career Appointees. In December 2023, according to
Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for "the bill that would
require that any rule issued by a federal executive agency under a
notice or comment period be initiated only by senior non-career
presidential appointees and signed by presidential appointees who have
been confirmed by the Senate. It would also direct the Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs within the Office of Management and
Budget to provide guidance to federal agencies on how to implement the
bill's requirements, and to monitor agency compliance. The bill would
create an exception for rules that affect public safety and security. It
would require that an agency head notify OIRA of the reasons why
complying with the requirement would impede public safety or security
and require that such notifications be published in the Federal
Register." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote
of 218 to 203, thus it was sent to the Senate. [House Vote 717,
12/12/23; Congressional
Quarterly, 12/12/23;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
357]
2023: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted For The Ensuring Accountability In
Agency Rulemaking Act. In December 2023, according to Congressional
Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted against the "motion to recommit the bill to
the House Judiciary Committee." The vote was on the motion to recommit.
The House rejected the motion by a vote of 206 to 211. [House Vote 716,
12/12/23; Congressional
Quarterly, 12/12/23;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
357]
2023: Fitzpatrick Voted To Require Congressional Approval To Implement
Any "Major Rule" That Would Result In An Annual Economic Impact Of Over
$100 Million, A Significant Price Increase, Or Adverse Effects On
Competition Or Employment. In June 2023, according to Congressional
Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for the Regulations from the Executive in
Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act of 2023, which would "require congressional
approval of a joint resolution to implement any 'major rule' that has or
is likely to result in an annual economic effect of at least $100
million; a major increase in costs or prices; or significant adverse
effects on U.S. competition, employment, productivity or international
competitiveness." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by
a vote of 221 to 210, thus the bill was sent to the Senate. [House Vote
265, 6/14/23;
Congressional Quarterly,
6/14/23; Congressional
Actions, H.R.
277]
Republicans Sought To Limit The Power Of Executive Agencies In An
Attempt To Decrease Policymaking Authority Of The Federal
Government. According to Congressional Quarterly, "House
Republicans passed a measure Wednesday aimed at curtailing the power
of executive agencies, part of the latest attempt in a years-long
effort from conservatives to reduce the policymaking power of the
federal government." [Congressional Quarterly,
6/14/23]
President Biden Threatened To Veto The Bill, Arguing It Would
Undermine Executive Agency Efforts And Place An Unnecessary Hurdle
Into The Regulatory Process. According to Congressional Quarterly,
"The Biden administration issued a veto threat against the
legislation and in a statement of administrative policy wrote that
the bill would undermine agency efforts and put an 'unwieldy,
unnecessary, and time-consuming hurdle' into the regulatory
process." [Congressional Quarterly,
6/14/23]
Republicans Argued That The Federal Bureaucracy Was Too Removed
From Elected Officials Who Are Accountable To Voters And Claimed
That Agencies Have Abused Policymaking Powers. According to
Congressional Quarterly, "Republicans contend that the federal
bureaucracy is too far removed from elected officials who are
accountable to voters, and the power at the agency level has usurped
the proper policymaking role of Congress." [Congressional
Quarterly, 6/14/23]
The Bill Would Permit Rules To Go Into Effect Without
Congressional Approval For 90 Days If The President Were To
Determine That The Rule Were Necessary For Specified Reasons.
According to Congressional Quarterly, "The bill would allow a major
rule to go into effect without congressional approval for a 90-day
period if the president determines by executive order that such rule
is necessary because of an imminent threat or emergency, necessary
for national security or the enforcement of criminal laws, or if the
rule has been issued to implement an international trade agreement."
[Congressional Quarterly,
6/14/23]
According To The Bill, If Congress Were To Not Approve A Rule
Within 70 Days, Similar Rules Would Be Prohibit For The Rest Of The
Congressional Session. According to Congressional Quarterly, "If a
joint resolution of approval for a major rule is not enacted within
70 legislative days, it would prohibit consideration of a joint
resolution of approval for the same rule for the duration of the
Congress." [Congressional Quarterly,
6/14/23]
The Bill Would Exempt Rules Issued By The Federal Reserve Or The
Federal Open Market Committee. According to Congressional
Quarterly, "It would exempt from the bill's requirements any rule
issued by the Federal Reserve Board of Governors or the Federal Open
Market Committee." [Congressional Quarterly,
6/14/23]
2023: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted For The Regulations From The
Executive In Need Of Scrutiny (REINS) Act Of 2023. In June 2023,
according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for the
"adoption of the rule (H Res 495) that would provide for floor
consideration of the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny
(REINS) Act (HR 277)." The vote was on the adoption of the rule. The
House adopted the rule by a vote of 218 to 209. [House Vote 250,
6/13/23; Congressional
Quarterly, 6/13/23;
Congressional Actions, H.Res.
495;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
277]
2023: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted For The Regulations From The
Executive In Need Of Scrutiny (REINS) Act Of 2023. In June 2023,
according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for the "motion
to order the previous question (thus ending debate and possibility of
amendment) on the rule (H Res 495) that would provide for floor
consideration of the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny
(REINS) Act (HR 277)." The vote was on a motion to order the previous
question. The House agreed to the motion by a vote of 216 to 209.
[House Vote 249,
6/13/23; Congressional
Quarterly, 6/13/23;
Congressional Actions, H.Res.
495;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
277]
2023: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted For The Regulations From The
Executive In Need Of Scrutiny (REINS) Act Of 2023. In June 2023,
according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for the
"adoption of the rule (H Res 463) that would provide for House floor
consideration of the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny
(REINS) Act (HR 277)." The vote was on the adoption of the rule. The
House rejected the rule by a vote of 206 to 220. [House Vote 248,
6/6/23; Congressional
Quarterly, 6/6/23;
Congressional Actions, H.Res.
463;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
277]
Far-Right House Republicans Organized To Vote Against The Rule As
A Rebuke To GOP Leadership For The Passage Of The Bipartisan Debt
Limit Package And For Backtracking On A Promise to Vote On Gun
Rights Legislation. According to Roll Call, "Hard-right House
conservatives derailed legislation scheduled for floor votes Tuesday
in a rebuke to GOP leadership. A group of House Republicans bucked
their party to vote against a rule (H Res 463) devised by GOP
leaders to take up legislation that included measures to rein in the
federal regulatory process (HR 277, HR 288) and the Biden
administration's ability to restrict gas stoves in particular (HR
1615, HR 1640). The rule was defeated on a 206-220 vote, as 11 GOP
defectors joined all Democrats in opposition. [...] The dissenting
Republicans said the vote was intended to signal their frustration
with GOP leadership for cutting a deal last week on the debt limit
they opposed. They also said leaders backtracked on a pledge to
schedule a floor vote on gun rights legislation (H J Res 44)."
[Roll Call,
6/6/23]
The Defeat Of The House Rule Was The First Defeat Since 2002.
According to Roll Call, "It was the first defeat of a House rule on
the floor since 2002, according to C-SPAN's Howard Mortman. At that
time, anti-abortion Republicans rebelled against bankruptcy overhaul
legislation over language Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., helped
author that would bar protesters at abortion clinics from declaring
bankruptcy to avoid paying court-ordered fines and judgments."
[Roll Call,
6/6/23]
2023: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted For The Regulations From The
Executive In Need Of Scrutiny (REINS) Act Of 2023. In June 2023,
according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for the "motion
to order the previous question (thus ending debate and possibility of
amendment) on the rule (H Res 463) that would provide for House floor
consideration of the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny
(REINS) Act (HR 277)." The vote was on a motion to order the previous
question. The House agreed to the motion by a vote of 215 to 203.
[House Vote 247, 6/6/23;
Congressional Quarterly,
6/6/23; Congressional Actions,
H.Res.
463;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
277]
2024: Fitzpatrick Voted To Require Analyses Of Federal Agency Rules To
Include Expected Indirect Costs To Small Entities. In December 2024,
Fitzpatrick voted for , according to Congressional Quarterly, "the bill
that would modify the Regulatory Flexibility Act to require each initial
regulatory flexibility analysis for federal agency rules to contain any
foreseeable potential indirect costs a proposed rule may impose on small
entities, when feasible. It would require an agency, within 10 days of
certifying that a rule will not have a significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities, to provide the certification to
the Small Business Administration's chief counsel for advocacy. It
would allow any small entity, group of small entities or organization
representing such entities to petition the chief counsel to review a
certification that a rule will not have significant economic impact. It
also would allow petitioners to request a consultation with the chief
counsel before or after filing the petition. Under the bill, a rule
would cease to be effective if an agency does not complete a mandatory
rule review within a 10-year period or does not attend the chief
counsel's meeting to review their certification that the rule will not
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small
entities. If the agency determines that rule should be reinstated, it
would have 180 days to complete a review. The bill would require the
chief counsel's full review to be published in the Federal Register and
on the SBA's Office of Advocacy website, within 30 days of beginning the
review." The House passed the bill by a vote of 208 to 196. [House Vote
489, 12/5/24;
Congressional Quarterly,
12/5/24; Congressional Actions,
H.R.
7198]
2024: Fitzpatrick Voted To Prohibit The Use Of Funds In The Homeland
Security Appropriations To Implement Rules Or Regulations With An
Economic Impact Of More Than $100 Million. In June 2024, Fitzpatrick
voted for , according to Congressional Quarterly, "amendment no. 9 that
would prohibit the use of funds provided by the bill to finalization of
any rule or regulation that would result in an annual effect of $100
million or more on the economy." The vote was on the amendment. The
underlying legislation was the FY 2025 State-Foreign Operations
Appropriations. The House adopted the amendment by a vote of 210 to 204.
[House Vote 301,
6/27/24; Congressional
Quarterly, 6/27/24;
Congressional Actions,
H.Amdt.1037;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
8771]
2024: Fitzpatrick Voted To Update Agency Rulemaking Guidelines. In
May 2024, Fitzpatrick voted for , according to Congressional Quarterly,
the "motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended, that
would as amended, that would require the Office of Management and
Budget, within one year of the bill's enactment, to update guidelines to
help federal agencies ensure and maximize the quality, utility, and
integrity of the 'influential information or evidence' they use to
develop or issue rules and guidance. It would define 'influential
information or evidence' as information or evidence that a federal
agency head can reasonably determine will have or does have a clear or
substantial impact on developing or issuing a proposed or final rule. It
would require each agency to also make available, for any of its rules
and before the rule's promulgation, the methods or evidence the agency
relied on in developing or issuing the rule. It would also exempt
information that is prohibited from being disclosed to the public from
this requirement." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by
a vote of 377 to 4. [House Vote 177,
5/6/24; Congressional
Quarterly, 5/6/24;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
7219]
2023: Fitzpatrick Voted Against An Amendment That Would Broaden The
Definition Of A "Major Rule" To Include Any Rule That Would Rest In An
Increase Of Mandatory Vaccinations. In June 2023, according to
Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted against an amendment to the
Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act of 2023,
which would "expand the bill's definition of a 'major rule' to include
any rule likely to result in an increase in mandatory vaccinations." The
vote was on the adoption of an amendment. The House adopted the
amendment by a vote of 219 to 217. [House Vote 263,
6/14/23; Congressional
Quarterly, 6/14/23;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
277;
Congressional Actions, H.Amdt.
204]
2023: Fitzpatrick Voted Against An Amendment That Would Have Broadened
The Definition Of "Major Rule" To Include Rules That Refer To President
Biden's Executive Orders Regarding Diversity, Equity And Inclusion. In
June 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted
against an amendment to the Regulations from the Executive in Need of
Scrutiny (REINS) Act of 2023, which would "expand the bill's definition
of a 'major rule' to include any rule that references one of President
Joe Biden's six executive orders related to diversity, equity and
inclusion (nos. 14091, 14075, 14035, 14021, 13988 and 13985)." The vote
was on the adoption of an amendment. The House rejected the amendment by
a vote of 217 to 219. [House Vote 262,
6/14/23; Congressional
Quarterly, 6/14/23;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
277;
Congressional Actions, H.Amdt.
203]
2023: Fitzpatrick Voted Against An Amendment That Would Have Changed
The Definition Of A "Major Rule" To Be Any Rule That Would Have An
Economic Impact Of $1 Billion, Instead Of $100 Million. In June
2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted against an
amendment to the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny
(REINS) Act of 2023, which would "change the bill's definition of a
'major rule' as determined by its annual effect on the economy,
increasing the threshold from $100 million to $1 billion." The vote
was on the adoption of an amendment. The House rejected the amendment by
a vote of 151 to 285. [House Vote 261,
6/14/23; Congressional
Quarterly, 6/14/23;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
277;
Congressional Actions, H.Amdt.
201]
2023: Fitzpatrick Voted Against An Amendment That Would Have Included
Any Rule That Would Increase Abortion Access Or Abortion-Related Travel
To The Definition Of A "Major Rule." In June 2023, according to
Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted against an amendment to the
Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act of 2023,
which would "expand the bill's definition of a 'major rule' to include
any rule likely to increase access to abortion services or
abortion-related travel." The vote was on the adoption of an amendment.
The House rejected the amendment by a vote of 211 to 223. [House Vote
258, 6/14/23;
Congressional Quarterly,
6/14/23; Congressional Actions,
H.R.
277;
Congressional Actions, H.Amdt.
198]
2023: Fitzpatrick Voted Against An Amendment That Would Have Included
Any Rule With An Annual Economic Impact Of $50 Million, Instead Of
$100 Million, To The Definition Of A "Major Rule." In June 2023,
according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted against an
amendment to the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny
(REINS) Act of 2023, which would "amend the bill's definition of a
'major rule' to include any rule with an annual economic effect of $50
million, rather than $100 million." The vote was on the adoption of an
amendment. The House rejected the amendment by a vote of 211 to 223.
[House Vote 257,
6/14/23; Congressional
Quarterly, 6/14/23;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
277;
Congressional Actions, H.Amdt.
193]