Rep. Ratcliffe Joins Fellow Conservatives to Launch Article I Project
Press Release
Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas) joined a select network of House and Senate conservatives today to launch the Article I Project (A1P) which takes an aggressive approach to reclaiming the powers of Congress as defined by the Constitution.
The lawmakers involved in A1P will develop and advance a strategic legislative plan to reassert the constitutional balance of power in the federal government which has been disproportionately seized by the executive branch. A1P will tackle this goal using several primary tools, including the power of the purse and regulatory reform.
"Every day I hear a growing concern from my constituents that Congress isn't doing enough to rein in the overreach of the executive branch and to stop the constant stream of regulations that are making Americans' lives more difficult," Ratcliffe said.
"According to the Constitution, Congress is the only branch that should be making laws, yet we've seen an erosion of the delicate balance of power set forth by our Founding Fathers. The Article I Project will be a solutions-oriented group that acts as a vehicle to restore the healthy, balanced and functioning government that our country needs."
As a former U.S. Attorney who sits on the House Judiciary Committee, Ratcliffe brings a commitment to defending the Constitution to the A1P team. His initial focus will center around two specific topics: 1) reforming Chevron Deference, a Supreme Court principle that causes courts to defer to federal agencies' interpretations of laws passed by Congress, rather than looking to Congress' original intent; and 2) preventing "Midnight Regulations," which administrations are notorious for ramming through toward the end of their term.
"Chevron Deference and Midnight Regulations are two serious contributors to the great imbalance of power we see today. As a strong defender of the Constitution, I'm making it my priority to address these critical issues through the Article I Project," Ratcliffe said.
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