Crockett Introduces TIMER Act to Reign In Baseless Right-Wing Court Challenges to Long-Standing Federal Rules

Today, Congresswomen Jasmine Crockett (TX-30) introduced the Timely Initiation to Modify Executive Rulemaking (TIMER) Act. This bill would clarify the Administrative Procedure Act to to make clear that a party filing to challenge agency rulemakings, such a challenge will be deemed timely only if it is within six years from when the final rule has been
issued. This legislation is in direct response to the decisions handed down by the Supreme Court earlier this year that would open the door to partisan challenges introduced in front of right-wing judges at any time a party deems they have been 'injured' by existing regulation - fundamentally undermine long-standing agency rules that have protected and improved our health and safety, preserved our environment, combatted consumer fraud and more for decades. 

"This radical interpretation of the Administrative Procedure Act by this radical Supreme Court opens up a Pandora's Box of potential right-wing attacks on our basic federal safety rules that have protected Americans for centuries," said Rep. Crockett. "Our bill would roll back the clock on this dangerous change, once again limiting claimants from using right-wing judges to rubber stamp decisions that would destroy the basic functions of government and leave Americans unprotected from unregulated multinational corporations that will trade consumer safety for profit. 

"It was agency rule-making from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission that ensure compliance with safety and maintenance standards for the equipment in nuclear reactors that prevent meltdowns. It was agency rule-making from the Food and Drug Administration that required food to be handled, packed, and shipped in safe, sanitary conditions - and it was Trump's gutting of those regulations that contributed to the recent slate of food safety recalls. Without this bill, this country will be forced into a Wild West of unscrupulous court challenges and unregulated industry exploitation of workers and consumers. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and protect the American people."