H.R. 6581: Safeguarding US Rulemaking Act (119th Congress) Bill Summary

The Safeguarding US Rulemaking Act is proposed legislation aimed at restricting participation in U.S. federal rulemaking processes. The key provisions of the bill include:

Restriction on Public Comments

The bill proposes changes to the way public comments are managed in rulemaking processes under federal agencies. Specifically:

The bill would amend Section 553 of Title 5 of the United States Code.
It would limit who can participate in the rulemaking process to U.S. citizens and U.S. entities.
Foreign governments, national individuals from those governments, or entities registered in those foreign nations that are deemed "foreign adversaries" by the Secretary of Commerce will be prohibited from submitting comments or participating in petitions related to rulemaking.

Definition of Foreign Adversaries

Under the bill, the term "foreign adversary" is defined by referencing existing regulations that categorize foreign governments and their affiliations as adversarial based on certain criteria. Any foreign government identified as such will automatically be excluded from engagement in U.S. regulatory processes.

Impact on Rulemaking Procedures

By implementing this restriction, the bill seeks to enhance U.S. national security and reduce the influence of foreign governments on domestic policymaking. This policy change could affect how agencies gather public input and consider comments in their decision-making processes, potentially narrowing the scope of opinions and information available to policymakers.

Exemption Clauses

The bill includes an exemption clause that allows for the possibility of certain public comments that meet U.S. sovereignty and security standards. However, the specifics of these exemptions are not detailed in the bill text.

Implementation and Enforcement

The Secretary of Commerce would be responsible for determining which foreign governments qualify as adversaries, giving them significant authority over which entities can or cannot participate in the U.S. rulemaking process.

Conclusion

This legislation reflects a broader trend towards securing national policy areas from outside influence, especially in the context of increasing geopolitical tensions and concerns about foreign interference in domestic affairs.