{ "id": "R43992", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "R", "number": "R43992", "active": true, "source": "CRSReports.Congress.gov, EveryCRSReport.com", "versions": [ { "source_dir": "crsreports.congress.gov", "title": "The Congressional Review Act (CRA): Frequently Asked Questions", "retrieved": "2021-12-10T04:03:37.210992", "id": "R43992_13_2021-11-12", "formats": [ { "filename": "files/2021-11-12_R43992_4e23e39d546094e9bee719a7e716d857f41f1b8e.pdf", "format": "PDF", "url": "https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R43992/13", "sha1": "4e23e39d546094e9bee719a7e716d857f41f1b8e" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/2021-11-12_R43992_4e23e39d546094e9bee719a7e716d857f41f1b8e.html" } ], "date": "2021-11-12", "summary": null, "source": "CRSReports.Congress.gov", "typeId": "R", "active": true, "sourceLink": "https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/details?prodcode=R43992", "type": "CRS Report" }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 618491, "date": "2020-01-14", "retrieved": "2020-03-06T17:09:18.637478", "title": "The Congressional Review Act (CRA): Frequently Asked Questions", "summary": "The Congressional Review Act (CRA) is an oversight tool that Congress may use to overturn rules issued by federal agencies. The CRA was included as part of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA), which was signed into law on March 29, 1996. The CRA requires agencies to report on their rulemaking activities to Congress and provides Congress with a special set of procedures under which to consider legislation to overturn those rules. \nUnder the CRA, before a rule can take effect, an agency must submit a report to each house of Congress and the comptroller general containing a copy of the rule; a concise general statement describing the rule, including whether it is a major rule; and the proposed effective date of the rule. After receiving the report, Members of Congress have specified time periods during which they must submit and act on a joint resolution of disapproval to take advantage of the CRA\u2019s special \u201cfast track\u201d procedures. If both houses pass the resolution, it is sent to the President for signature or veto. If the President were to veto the resolution, Congress could vote to override the veto. \nIf a joint resolution of disapproval is submitted within the CRA-specified deadline, passed by Congress, and signed by the President, the CRA states that the disapproved rule \u201cshall not take effect (or continue).\u201d That is, the rule would be deemed not to have had any effect at any time. Even provisions that had become effective would be retroactively negated. \nFurthermore, if a joint resolution of disapproval is enacted, the CRA provides that a rule may not be issued in \u201csubstantially the same form\u201d as the disapproved rule unless it is specifically authorized by a subsequent law. The CRA does not define what would constitute a rule that is \u201csubstantially the same\u201d as a nullified rule. Additionally, the statute prohibits judicial review of any \u201cdetermination, finding, action, or omission under\u201d the CRA.\nThis report discusses the most frequently asked questions received by the Congressional Research Service about the CRA. It addresses questions relating to the applicability of the act, the requirements for submission of rules, the procedural requirements that must be met for Congress to file and act upon a CRA joint resolution of disapproval, and the effects of an enacted CRA joint resolution of disapproval. This report also discusses potential advantages and disadvantages of using the CRA to disapprove rules, as well as other options available to Congress to conduct oversight of agency rulemaking. \nFor further questions not addressed here, please contact Maeve P. Carey (questions regarding history, scope, and agency compliance with the CRA), Christopher M. Davis (questions regarding congressional procedures and day counts under the CRA), or Valerie C. Brannon (questions regarding legal issues under the CRA).", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "https://www.crs.gov/Reports/R43992", "sha1": "611486be1b68039e9c141d4e8ebff81cbc7398bf", "filename": "files/20200114_R43992_611486be1b68039e9c141d4e8ebff81cbc7398bf.html", "images": {} }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "https://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R43992", "sha1": "fd8cfc981cdf9bf9f454d0373130137a28f136fa", "filename": "files/20200114_R43992_fd8cfc981cdf9bf9f454d0373130137a28f136fa.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4816, "name": "Rulemaking & Judicial Review" }, { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4910, "name": "Legislative Branch" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 457112, "date": "2016-11-17", "retrieved": "2016-11-21T15:06:08.315224", "title": "The Congressional Review Act: Frequently Asked Questions", "summary": "The Congressional Review Act (CRA) is an oversight tool that Congress may use to overturn a rule issued by a federal agency. The CRA was included as part of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA), which was signed into law on March 29, 1996. The CRA requires agencies to report on their rulemaking activities to Congress and provides Congress with a special set of procedures under which to consider legislation to overturn those rules. \nUnder the CRA, before a rule can take effect, an agency must submit a report to each house of Congress and the Comptroller General containing a copy of the rule; a concise general statement relating to the rule, including whether it is a major rule; and the proposed effective date of the rule. Upon receipt of the report in Congress, Members of Congress have specified time periods in which to submit and take action on a joint resolution of disapproval. If both houses pass the resolution, it is sent to the President for signature or veto. If the President were to veto the resolution, Congress could vote to override the veto. \nIf a joint resolution of disapproval is submitted within the CRA-specified deadline, passed by Congress, and signed by the President, the CRA states that the \u201crule shall not take effect (or continue).\u201d That is, the rule would be deemed not to have had any effect at any time. Even provisions that had become effective would be retroactively negated. \nFurthermore, if a joint resolution of disapproval were enacted, the CRA provides that a rule may not be issued in \u201csubstantially the same form\u201d as the disapproved rule unless it is specifically authorized by a subsequent law. The CRA does not define what would constitute a rule that is \u201csubstantially the same\u201d as a nullified rule. Additionally, the CRA prohibits judicial review of any \u201cdetermination, finding, action, or omission under this chapter.\u201d\nThis report discusses the most frequently asked questions received by the Congressional Research Service about the CRA. It addresses questions relating to the applicability of the act; the submission requirements with which agencies must comply; the procedural requirements that must be met in order to file and act upon a CRA joint resolution of disapproval; and the legal effect of a successful CRA joint resolution of disapproval. This report also discusses potential advantages and disadvantages of using the CRA to disapprove rules, as well as other options available to Congress to conduct oversight of agency rulemaking. \nFor further questions not addressed here, please contact one of the authors: Maeve P. Carey (questions regarding history of and agency compliance with the CRA); Christopher M. Davis (questions regarding congressional procedures and day counts under the CRA); or Alissa M. Dolan (questions regarding legal issues under the CRA).", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R43992", "sha1": "429a60ee3cf3b5bb9624720a98bacb8c141493c4", "filename": "files/20161117_R43992_429a60ee3cf3b5bb9624720a98bacb8c141493c4.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R43992", "sha1": "884558f6ea0b2114689000ccb8039b6369b75a6e", "filename": "files/20161117_R43992_884558f6ea0b2114689000ccb8039b6369b75a6e.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4816, "name": "Rulemaking & Judicial Review" }, { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4910, "name": "Legislative Branch" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 440444, "date": "2015-04-17", "retrieved": "2016-04-06T19:12:28.386620", "title": "The Congressional Review Act: Frequently Asked Questions", "summary": "The Congressional Review Act (CRA) is an oversight tool that Congress may use to overturn a rule issued by a federal agency. The CRA was included as part of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA), which was signed into law on March 29, 1996. The CRA requires agencies to report on their rulemaking activities to Congress and provides Congress with a special set of procedures under which to consider legislation to overturn those rules. \nUnder the CRA, before a rule can take effect, an agency must submit a report to each house of Congress and the Comptroller General containing a copy of the rule; a concise general statement relating to the rule, including whether it is a major rule; and the proposed effective date of the rule. Upon receipt of the report in Congress, Members of Congress have specified time periods in which to submit and take action on a joint resolution of disapproval. If both houses pass the resolution, it is sent to the President for signature or veto. If the President were to veto the resolution, Congress could vote to override the veto. \nIf a joint resolution of disapproval is submitted within the CRA-specified deadline, passed by Congress, and signed by the President, the CRA states that the \u201crule shall not take effect (or continue).\u201d That is, the rule would be deemed not to have had any effect at any time. Even provisions that had become effective would be retroactively negated. \nFurthermore, if a joint resolution of disapproval were enacted, the CRA provides that a rule may not be issued in \u201csubstantially the same form\u201d as the disapproved rule unless it is specifically authorized by a subsequent law. The CRA does not define what would constitute a rule that is \u201csubstantially the same\u201d as a nullified rule. Additionally, the CRA prohibits judicial review of any \u201cdetermination, finding, action, or omission under this chapter.\u201d\nThis report discusses the most frequently asked questions received by the Congressional Research Service about the CRA. It addresses questions relating to the applicability of the act; the submission requirements with which agencies must comply; the procedural requirements that must be met in order to file and act upon a CRA joint resolution of disapproval; and the legal effect of a successful CRA joint resolution of disapproval. This report also discusses potential advantages and disadvantages of using the CRA to disapprove rules, as well as other options available to Congress to conduct oversight of agency rulemaking. \nFor further questions not addressed here, please contact one of the authors: Maeve P. Carey (questions regarding history of and agency compliance with the CRA); Christopher M. Davis (questions regarding congressional procedures and day counts under the CRA); or Alissa M. Dolan (questions regarding legal issues under the CRA).", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R43992", "sha1": "e6ca945412f5558e8c8bd59584cd6d09719c3031", "filename": "files/20150417_R43992_e6ca945412f5558e8c8bd59584cd6d09719c3031.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R43992", "sha1": "232267d9bbc5c2a2b242123b771d622d23c95916", "filename": "files/20150417_R43992_232267d9bbc5c2a2b242123b771d622d23c95916.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 3271, "name": "Rulemaking and the Regulatory Process" } ] } ], "topics": [ "Legislative Process" ] }