H.R. 2247 is being considered under suspension of the rules, requiring a two-thirds vote for passage. The legislation was introduced by Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) on May 5, 2009.
H.R. 2247 repeals a requirement that federal agencies submit rules and reports that are published in the Federal Register to both the House and Senate and designates the Government Accountability Office (GAO) as the recipient of these materials. The bill would repeal a requirement that both chambers provide copies of the rules and reports to the Chairman and Ranking Member of each committee with responsibility for review of the rules. The legislation also requires GAO to submit to the House and Senate a weekly report listing all rules received since the last report was submitted.
In the 110th Congress, the House passed a similar bill (H.R. 5593) under suspension of the rules on June 9, 2008, by voice vote. The Senate never considered that legislation.
Current law requires an agency promulgating a rule to submit a report to the House and Senate and to the Government Accountability Office that includes a copy of the rule, and the proposed effective date of the rule. A rule cannot take effect if the report is not submitted. As of March 31, 2008, the GAO submitted rules and reports to Congress on 731 major rules and had cataloged 46,809 non-major rules.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that implementing H.R. 2247 would have no significant impact on the federal budget
