U.S. Chamber Applauds Introduction of Legislation to Restore Transparency in Rulemaking

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Chamber of Commerce today praised the introduction of legislation to help ensure the federal rulemaking process is governed by principles of open government and public participation. The “Sunshine for Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act of 2013,” introduced in the Senate by Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and in the House by Representative Doug Collins (R-GA), would take important steps to stop the abusive practice known as “sue and settle, ” where agencies and environmental advocacy groups join together to circumvent the legal protections ensuring that the public has a say in the development of regulations.

The Chamber led 53 other organizations in sending a letter to members of the Senate and House Judiciary Committees today, urging them to consider the legislation and report it to both chambers for floor votes.

“This common-sense legislation is greatly needed to protect the integrity of the rulemaking process and ensure transparency so the public is not denied the opportunity to provide input,” said Bill Kovacs, the Chamber’s senior vice president for Environment, Technology & Regulatory Affairs. “Through the process of sue-and settle rulemaking, agencies and organizations do an end-run around good government principles to achieve the policy objectives of special interests. The Chamber applauds Senator Grassley and Representative Collins for introducing this legislation, and urges Congress to swiftly pass this legislation and enact reforms to help ensure the public has a meaningful voice in the rulemaking process.”

The Chamber has strongly advocated for legislation to  bring transparency to the sue and settle process, including testifying before Congress. Last year, the Chamber released a report highlighting how the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) used sue and settle rulemaking to usurp state authority to manage their congressionally delegated regional haze programs, costing states millions of dollars with no discernible benefits.