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Congressman Alford Introduces the Holding Agencies Accountable Act

Washington, November 30, 2023

Washington, DC – Earlier today, Congressman Mark Alford (MO-04) introduced the Holding Agencies Accountable Act. This bill aims to enhance transparency and accountability in federal rulemaking. Often, both Congress and the public, including businesses affected by these rules, do not know when rules have been officially submitted by federal agencies. This lack of information can lead to insufficient time for proper review and response, potentially resulting in unexamined or hastily approved regulations.

 

The Holding Agencies Accountable Act addresses these concerns through:

  • Agency Reporting: Agencies would be required to report to the Archivist when they submit a rule to Congress and the GAO.
  • Archivist's Role: The Archivist would include the submission date in the Document Details section of the rule on the Federal Register.

 

Congressman Alford issued the following statement:

“Congress and the American people deserve to be fully informed and have adequate time to review new federal rules. This legislation brings much-needed transparency to the rulemaking process, empowering stakeholders by making crucial information easily accessible. By mandating agencies to report rule submission dates to the Archivist for inclusion in the Federal Register, we are enhancing the accountability of our federal agencies and ensuring they actually submit final rules to Congress. This Act is a vital step towards more effective governance, ensuring that new rules receive thorough scrutiny and consideration.”

 

The National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) said:   

“Small businesses are overwhelmed with government red tape and regulations with no sign of relief, and they often don’t have the resources to meet the demands of these burdensome government regulations. The Holding Agencies Accountable Act is a commonsense step to ensure transparency in the regulatory process,” Josh McLeod, Manager of Federal Government Relations.

 

Media inquiries for Rep. Alford should be directed to Peter Minetos at Peter.Minetos@mail.house.gov.