text: SECTION 1. CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW OF RULES.
  
      (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Regulatory 
  Oversight Act of 1995''.
      (b) In General.--Chapter 5 of title 5, United States Code, is 
  amended by inserting after section 553 the following new section:
  ``Sec. 553a. Congressional review of rules
      ``(a) For purposes of this section the term `significant rule' 
  means any rule that may have an annual effect on the economy of 
  $100,000,000 or more or adversely affect in a material way the economy, 
  a sector of the economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the 
  environment, public health or safety, or State, local, or tribal 
  governments or communities.
      ``(b)(1) Before a rule takes effect as a final rule, the agency 
  promulgating such rule shall submit to the Congress a report 
  containing--
              ``(A) a copy of the rule;
              ``(B) a concise general statement relating to the rule;
              ``(C) the proposed effective date of the rule; and
              ``(D) a complete copy of the cost benefit analysis of the 
          rule, if any.
      ``(2) A significant rule relating to a report submitted under 
  paragraph (1) shall take effect as a final rule, the latest of--
              ``(A) the later of the date occurring 45 days after the 
          date on which--
                      ``(i) the Congress receives the report submitted 
                  under paragraph (1); or
                      ``(ii) the rule is published in the Federal 
                  Register;
              ``(B) if the Congress passes a joint resolution of 
          disapproval described under subsection (h) relating to the 
          rule, and the President signs a veto of such resolution, the 
          earlier date--
                      ``(i) on which either House of Congress votes and 
                  fails to override the veto of the President; or
                      ``(ii) occurring 30 session days after the date on 
                  which the Congress received the veto and objections of 
                  the President; or
              ``(C) the date the rule would have otherwise taken effect, 
          if not for this section (unless a joint resolution of 
          disapproval under subsection (h) is enacted).
      ``(3) Except for a significant rule, a rule shall take effect as 
  otherwise provided by law after submission to Congress under paragraph 
  (1).
      ``(c) A rule shall not take effect as a final rule, if the Congress 
  passes a joint resolution of disapproval described under subsection 
  (h).
      ``(d)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section 
  (except subject to paragraph (3)), a rule that would not take effect by 
  reason of this section may take effect, if the President makes a 
  determination under paragraph (2) and submits written notice of such 
  determination to the Congress.
      ``(2) Paragraph (1) applies to a determination made by the 
  President by Executive order that the rule should take effect because 
  such rule is--
              ``(A) necessary because of an imminent threat to health or 
          safety or other emergency;
              ``(B) necessary for the enforcement of criminal laws; or
              ``(C) necessary for national security.
      ``(3) An exercise by the President of the authority under this 
  subsection shall have no effect on the procedures under subsection (h) 
  or the effect of a joint resolution of disapproval under this section.
      ``(4) This subsection and an Executive order issued by the 
  President under this subsection shall not be subject to judicial review 
  by a court of the United States.
      ``(e)(1) The provisions of subsection (h) shall apply to any rule 
  that is published in the Federal Register (as a rule that shall take 
  effect as a final rule) during the period beginning on the date 
  occurring 60 days before the date the Congress adjourns sine die 
  through the date on which the succeeding Congress first convenes.
      ``(2) For purposes of subsection (h), a rule described under 
  paragraph (1) shall be treated as though such rule were published in 
  the Federal Register (as a rule that shall take effect as a final rule) 
  on the date the succeeding Congress first convenes.
      ``(3) During the period beginning on the date the Congress adjourns 
  sine die through the date on which the succeeding Congress first 
  convenes, a rule described under paragraph (1) shall take effect as a 
  final rule as otherwise provided by law.
      ``(f) Any rule that takes effect and later is made of no force or 
  effect by the enactment of a joint resolution under subsection (h) 
  shall be treated as though such rule had never taken effect.
      ``(g) If the Congress does not enact a joint resolution of 
  disapproval under subsection (h), no court or agency may infer any 
  intent of the Congress from any action or inaction of the Congress with 
  regard to such rule, related statute, or joint resolution of 
  disapproval.
      ``(h)(1) For purposes of this subsection, the term `joint 
  resolution' means only a joint resolution introduced after the date on 
  which the report referred to in subsection (b) is received by Congress 
  the matter after the resolving clause of which is as follows: `That 
  Congress disapproves the rule submitted by the ________ relating to 
  ________, and such rule shall have no force or effect. (The blank 
  spaces being appropriately filled in.)'.
      ``(2)(A) A resolution described in paragraph (1) shall be referred 
  to the committees in each House of Congress with jurisdiction. Such a 
  resolution may not be reported before the eighth day after its 
  submission or publication date.
      ``(B) For purposes of this subsection the term `submission or 
  publication date' means the later of the date on which--
              ``(i) the Congress receives the report submitted under 
          subsection (b)(1); or
              ``(ii) the rule is published in the Federal Register.
      ``(3) If the committee to which is referred a resolution described 
  in paragraph (1) has not reported such resolution (or an identical 
  resolution) at the end of 20 calendar days after the submission or 
  publication date defined under paragraph (2)(B), such committee may be 
  discharged by the Majority Leader of the Senate or the Majority Leader 
  of the House of Representatives, as the case may be, from further 
  consideration of such resolution and such resolution shall be placed on 
  the appropriate calendar of the House involved.
      ``(4)(A) When the committee to which a resolution is referred has 
  reported, or when a committee is discharged (under paragraph (3)) from 
  further consideration of, a resolution described in paragraph (1), it 
  is at any time thereafter in order (even though a previous motion to 
  the same effect has been disagreed to) for any Member of the respective 
  House to move to proceed to the consideration of the resolution, and 
  all points of order against the resolution (and against consideration 
  of the resolution) are waived. The motion is highly privileged in the 
  House of Representatives and is privileged in the Senate and is not 
  debatable. The motion is not subject to amendment, or to a motion to 
  postpone, or to a motion to proceed to the consideration of other 
  business. A motion to reconsider the vote by which the motion is agreed 
  to or disagreed to shall not be in order. If a motion to proceed to the 
  consideration of the resolution is agreed to, the resolution shall 
  remain the unfinished business of the respective House until disposed 
  of.
      ``(B) Debate on the resolution, and on all debatable motions and 
  appeals in connection therewith, shall be limited to not more than 10 
  hours, which shall be divided equally between those favoring and those 
  opposing the resolution. A motion further to limit debate is in order 
  and not debatable. An amendment to, or a motion to postpone, or a 
  motion to proceed to the consideration of other business, or a motion 
  to recommit the resolution is not in order. A motion to reconsider the 
  vote by which the resolution is agreed to or disagreed to is not in 
  order.
      ``(C) Immediately following the conclusion of the debate on a 
  resolution described in paragraph (1), and a single quorum call at the 
  conclusion of the debate if requested in accordance with the rules of 
  the appropriate House, the vote on final passage of the resolution 
  shall occur.
      ``(D) Appeals from the decisions of the Chair relating to the 
  application of the rules of the Senate or the House of Representatives, 
  as the case may be, to the procedure relating to a resolution described 
  in paragraph (1) shall be decided without debate.
      ``(5) If, before the passage by one House of a resolution of that 
  House described in paragraph (1), that House receives from the other 
  House a resolution described in paragraph (1), then the following 
  procedures shall apply:
              ``(A) The resolution of the other House shall not be 
          referred to a committee.
              ``(B) With respect to a resolution described in paragraph 
          (1) of the House receiving the resolution--
                      ``(i) the procedure in that House shall be the same 
                  as if no resolution had been received from the other 
                  House; but
                      ``(ii) the vote on final passage shall be on the 
                  resolution of the other House.
      ``(6) This subsection is enacted by Congress--
              ``(A) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the Senate 
          and House of Representatives, respectively, and as such it is 
          deemed a part of the rules of each House, respectively, but 
          applicable only with respect to the procedure to be followed in 
          that House in the case of a resolution described in paragraph 
          (1), and it supersedes other rules only to the extent that it 
          is inconsistent with such rules; and
              ``(B) with full recognition of the constitutional right of 
          either House to change the rules (so far as relating to the 
          procedure of that House) at any time, in the same manner, and 
          to the same extent as in the case of any other rule of that 
          House.''.
      (c) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for 
  chapter 5 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting after 
  the item relating to section 553 the following:
  
  ``553a. Congressional review of rules.''.
      (d) Effective Date.--This Act shall take effect on the date of the 
  enactment of this Act and shall apply to any significant rule that 
  takes effect as a final rule on or after such effective date.
target: Regulatory Oversight Act of 1995 - Provides for a review by the Congress of rules promulgated by Federal agencies, before such rules take effect as final rules. 
  Requires Federal agencies to submit rules and reports on them, including any cost-benefit analyses, to the Congress.  Allows the Congress to stop final implementation of significant rules through a joint resolution of disapproval (and override of any Presidential veto of such resolution).  Defines a significant rule as any rule that may have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more, or adversely affect in a material way the economy, a sector of the economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public health or safety, or State, local, or tribal governments or communities.
feat_title: Regulatory Oversight Act of 1995