WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined a letter led by Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) urging President Joe Biden to follow good government practices regarding late-term federal regulations put forward by the Trump Administration.
“Officials and congressional leadership have used rhetoric that raises concern with those of us committed to good government and the well-being of the American people. It would be unwise to undo the achievements of the last several years with rushed actions that undermine the thoughtful regulatory reforms that have saved Americans $50 billion in regulatory costs,” the senators wrote. “Absent action by Congress expressing its disapproval with any late-term rules issued by the outgoing administration, an incoming administration should carry out its duties and faithfully execute federal law—including by allowing lawfully issued final rules to go into effect.”
Final rules written by agencies that have completed the rulemaking process generally do not go into effect until at least 30 days after the rule is published in the Federal Register, or, in the case of a “major rule” as designated by the Congressional Review Act, at least 60 days after publishing. In the event the Biden Administration seeks to delay some of these late-term federal regulations from going into effect, such a change would require notice-and-comment. The senators believe the regular procedures should not be short-circuited in the interest of expediency.
One such example is the Fair Access Rule, which was finalized and not published. Today, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency announced it would halt publication of this rule. Senator Cramer urged the Biden Administration to not improperly kill the rule. Learn more here.
Senators Cramer and Portman are joined on the letter by Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Pat Toomey (R-PA), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Deb Fischer (R-NE), James Lankford (R-OK), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Ben Sasse (R-NE), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Todd Young (R-IN), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Rick Scott (R-FL), Roger Marshall, MD (R-KS), and Bill Hagerty (R-TN).