Collins’ ‘Sue and Settle’ Legislation Passes U.S. House

The first bill introduced in Congress by 9th District U.S. Representative Doug Collins passes the House of Representatives.

The House of Representatives this week passed House Resolution 1493, known as the Sunshine for Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act.

Collins’ office said the bill was packaged with three other pieces of legislation aimed at stopping abuses in government power.

In a press release, Collins’ office stated that House Resolution 1493 reforms the abusive “sue and settle” practices that result in federal bureaucracies producing more regulations as a result of legal action.

Collins said House Resolution 1493 would require federal agencies to give notice when they learn of an impending lawsuit, and it then gives all affected parties the opportunity to intervene so that one special interest group does not dominate the process.

He also said the bill requires the agencies to publish notices of proposed settlements in the Federal Register and respond to public comments.

Finally, Collins said it demands accountability by requiring agencies to show how a settlement agreement is consistent with the law.

While House Resolution 1493 was the first bill Congressman Collins introduced, his office said it is now the third Collins-authored piece of legislation to pass the House of Representatives in the 113th Congress.