Judiciary Committee Approves Collins Bill to Prevent Sue and Settle Abuse

Press Release

The House Judiciary Committee today approved Congressman Doug Collins' Sunshine for Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act to increase public participation in the federal rule-making process. Collins (GA09) is an original sponsor of the bill with Senator Charles Grassley.

"Special interests and federal bureaucrats are agreeing to economically harmful regulations without consulting affected employers and employees," said the Northeast Georgian, a member of the Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law.

"Congress wants to throw open the doors on so-called "sue-and-settle' agreements that they're abusing to avoid public scrutiny," Collins explained, adding that his bill would allow more Americans a seat at the negotiating able.

He said it would strengthen the public comment process and judicial review of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations, for instance. "Like-minded environmentalists are speeding regulations they know would die in the light of day," said Collins. "Their collusion is another example of executive overreach that I'm determined to stop."

The Chamber of Commerce estimates that private sue-and-settle agreements between special interest groups and federal agencies cost the American economy hundreds of billions of dollars each year.

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