House Republicans are targeting eight of the Biden administration’s energy-related rules and two of its online financial transaction regulations for repeal under the Congressional Review Act.
Majority Leader Steve Scalise, a Louisiana Republican who is leading the CRA effort, released a list Thursday of the 10 rules that Republicans will prioritize repealing in the coming weeks, while adding that the list may not be exhaustive.
The Congressional Review Act gives lawmakers power to roll back administration regulations they oppose, but only if they act within a limited time window.
Republicans, who now control both chambers of Congress, can use the CRA to advance joint resolutions of disapproval repealing Biden administration rules finalized since August — if they move in the next few months.
Such resolutions are not subject to a filibuster, meaning the Democratic minority cannot block them if Republicans stay united.
At the top of the Republican list for repeal is the Environmental Protection Agency’s rule granting California waivers to preempt federal car and truck air emissions standards. Republicans argue that these stricter standards have increased costs for automakers and consumers.
Another EPA rule establishing emissions standards for rubber tire manufacturing is also on the repeal list.
The GOP plans to claw back an EPA rule implementing a methane emission fee on oil and natural gas facilities, as required under the Inflation Reduction Act, that they say has stymied domestic energy production.
Similarly, Republicans want to get rid of a Commodity Futures Trading Commission rule establishing a voluntary market for the buying and selling of carbon credits to offset emissions, arguing it encourages political activism rather than actually helping reduce emissions.
Republicans are targeting Energy Department rules banning certain natural gas water heaters and expanding certification of conservation standards in an effort to preserve consumer choice.
Also up for repeal are Interior Department rules regulating equipment used in high-temperature offshore drilling environments and requiring archaeological reports for oil and gas operations on the Outer Continental Shelf.
The other two rules on the GOP’s repeal list focus on online financial transactions.
One is a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rule placing new regulations on digital payment applications like Venmo that facilitate more than 50 million consumer transactions per year.
The other is an IRS rule requiring brokers to report gross proceeds from crypto and other digital asset transactions. Republicans said the rule not only creates additional tax-filing burdens but raises privacy concerns over taxpayer data the brokers are required to share.
• Lindsey McPherson can be reached at lmcpherson@washingtontimes.com.