Press Releases

Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga) issued the following statement after he introduced the Terminating Heavy Regulations to Invigorate a Vibrant Economy (THRIVE) Act:

“For decades now, the executive branch has undergone tremendous change, and it has drifted further and further from what the Framers outlined in Article II of the Constitution.

“Some presidents have used the executive branch to circumvent Congress – sometimes unconstitutionally - and impose or pressure government agencies or institutions into following an ideological agenda.

“Thankfully, the Congressional Review Act [cra] provides Congress with the ability to undo some of these actions. Unfortunately, the CRA does not give Congress the ability to undo all unconstitutional and over regulatory actions taken by an administration. This bill would help bring the executive branch back into accordance with what the Founders of our nation outlined in the Constitution by expanding the scope of the CRA to include regulatory guidance.

“This bill will also limit the scope of the CRA to exclude deregulatory actions, including those actions used to increase the effectiveness of Operation Warp Speed. This would make it more difficult to restore heavy-handed regulations. Operation Warp Speed and related deregulatory actions have led to scientific breakthroughs long thought impossible. Recent deregulatory actions are supporting an improving economy after the effects of COVID-19.”

“The THRIVE Act makes critical reforms to focus and improve the Congressional Review Act of 1996, which serves as a critical tool providing expedited legislative accountability for federal red tape. Seizing upon Trump Administration reforms requiring agencies to identify ‘deregulatory’ actions, this bill would ensure that Congress’ disapproval of regulations are focused on those rules, often finalized at the end of a presidential term, that expand government power and impose costs on the country. This would protect recent beneficial reforms to streamline federal infrastructure reviews, protect retirees’ savings, improve health care nondiscrimination programs, and defend independent contractors. Disapproval of these final actions by Congress would re-impose billions of dollars of unnecessary costs on the American people as well as close the door to related reforms in the future.” - Clint Woods, Policy Fellow, Americans for Prosperity

“Independent Women’s Voice, which fights to enhance people’s freedom, choices, and opportunities, is proud to support the Terminating Heavy Regulations to Invigorate a Vibrant Economy (THRIVE) Act, introduced by Representative Barry Loudermilk. This bill would amend the Congressional Review Act of 1996 (CRA) to exempt deregulatory actions from CRA review. Currently, Congress has the ability to block deregulatory efforts under the CRA. The THRIVE Act would modernize the CRA to avoid bottlenecks in the regulatory reform process and to ensure that existing regulatory reforms are not dismantled.” - Hadley Heath Manning, Director of Policy, Independent Women’s Voice (Additional comments from IWV can be found, HERE)

To read the THRIVE Act, please CLICK HERE.