Overnight Regulation: House votes for more requirements on rulemaking process

by Tim Devaney and Lydia Wheeler - 03/02/17 5:22 PM ET

Welcome to Overnight Regulation, your daily rundown of the news from the federal agencies, Capitol Hill, the courts and beyond. It’s Thursday evening here in Washington, where Sen. Jeff Sessions spent the day under fire. Here’s the latest.

THE BIG STORY

The House passed a regulatory reform bill Thursday aimed at increasing transparency in the rulemaking process.

The Regulatory Integrity Act backed by Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) requires federal agencies to shed light on what happens behind the scenes when they are crafting new rules. The measure also prohibits regulators from drumming up public support for those rules.

The House voted 246 to 176 to pass the bill.

“The public comment period is an essential part of upholding our Democratic values, because it ensures that Americans will have their voices heard in the federal government’s regulatory process,” Walberg said on the floor. “Agencies must take the comment period seriously.”

Under the Regulatory Integrity Act, federal agencies must publish online a list of regulations they are writing, a description of those rules, the status, and timeframe for when the agency started working on and expects to complete each rule.

The legislation also prohibits federal agencies from advocating for their regulations and “appealing to the public” to support these proposed rules.

To ensure this happens, federal agencies would be required to publish a list of their “public communications” about regulations, the type of communication, date, audience, and a copy of what was said.

Federal agencies must “keep to the facts” and “speak about regulations in a neutral, unbiased tone,” Walberg said.

“People need confidence that federal agencies — regardless of whether it is a Republican or Democratic administration — are open to their insights and constructive criticism,” he said.

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) suggested the rule would create “uncertainty and confusion” within federal agencies “as to what public communications are permissible, and risks discouraging agencies from keeping the public apprised of the important work they do on its behalf.”

The Regulatory Integrity Act passed the House, but Senate Democrats could block the measure from getting to President Trump’s desk in the Oval Office.

Click here for the story.

TOMORROW’S REGS TODAY

Keep an eye on these rules in Friday’s edition of the Federal Register:

–The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will delay new standards for onions.

The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service proposed new grading standards for frozen onions last November, but will reopen the comment period to give the public more time to consider the changes.

The public now has an additional 30 days to comment.

–The Surface Transportation Board will take account of the railroad industry’s finances.

The board is requesting information about railroads’ debt capital, equity capital, and market value in 2016.

The railroads have until April 20 to respond.

NEWS RIGHT NOW

House votes to create new requirements for writing regulations

Dem senators press companies on Trump nixing overtime rule

House votes to repeal Obama-era workplace protections

FAA chief defends air traffic control after Trump attack

Trump withdraws former FCC Dem’s nomination

Robocall crackdown tops agenda for FCC March meeting

House Dems push FCC to adopt stronger cybersecurity measures