Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Read the Bill Act”.
Read the Bill Act
A BILL
To prohibit the consideration in the House of Representatives or Senate of the text of any legislation which has not been published online at least 72 hours prior to its consideration, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Requiring text of legislation to be available prior to consideration in House or Senate
Requiring Availability of Text— It shall not be in order to consider any bill or resolution in the House of Representatives (including the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union) or Senate unless the text of the bill or resolution to be considered, including text made in order in the House (or the Committee of the Whole) as a result of the adoption by the House of a resolution providing for consideration of the bill or resolution, is published on an official website of the Clerk of the House or the Secretary of the Senate (as the case may be) not fewer than the applicable minimum number of hours prior to the consideration of the bill or resolution.
Applicable Minimum Number of Hours—
In general— For purposes of this section, the “applicable minimum number of hours” with respect to the text of a bill or resolution is—
in the case of text of 300 or fewer pages, 72 hours; or
in the case of text of more than 300 pages, the sum of 72 hours plus 24 hours for each additional increment of text of 100 or fewer pages.
Excluding hours during which House or Senate is not in session— In determining the applicable number of hours under paragraph (1), there shall be excluded any hour during which the House of Representatives is not in session (in the case of a bill or resolution in the House) or any hour during which the Senate is not in session (in the case of a bill or resolution in the Senate).
No waiver or modification— Neither House of Congress, nor Congress jointly, by concurrent resolution, unanimous consent, or any other order, resolution, vote, or other means, may dispense with, or otherwise waive or modify, the requirements set forth in this section.
Sec. 3 Rules for showing amendments made to existing law by bills or joint resolutions
Material To be included in committee reports— Whenever a committee of the House of Representatives or Senate reports a bill or joint resolution proposing to repeal or amend a statute or part thereof, it shall include in its report or in an accompanying document—
the entire text of each section of a statute that is proposed to be repealed or amended; and
a comparative print of each amendment to a section of a statute that the bill or joint resolution proposes to make, showing by appropriate typographical devices the omissions and insertions proposed.
Requirements for comparative print— If a committee of the House of Representatives or Senate reports a bill or joint resolution proposing to repeal or amend a statute or part thereof with a recommendation that the bill or joint resolution be amended, the comparative print required by subsection (a) shall reflect the changes in existing law proposed to be made by the bill or joint resolution as proposed to be amended.
Prohibiting consideration of reported bills or joint resolutions failing To meet requirements— It shall not be in order to consider any bill or joint resolution in the House of Representatives (including the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union) or Senate which is reported by a committee if the committee does not meet the requirements of subsection (a) or (b) with respect to the bill or joint resolution.
No waiver or modification— Neither House of Congress, nor Congress jointly, by concurrent resolution, unanimous consent, or any other order, resolution, vote, or other means, may dispense with, or otherwise waive or modify, the requirements set forth in this section.
Sec. 4 Enforcement
No legal effect for Acts of Congress failing To meet requirements— An Act of Congress that was considered as a bill or resolution in the House of Representatives or Senate in violation of the applicable requirements of section 2 or 3 shall have no force or effect, and no legal, equitable, regulatory, civil, or criminal action may be brought under such an Act of Congress.
Cause of Action— Without regard to the amount in controversy, a cause of action under sections 2201 and 2202 of title 28, United States Code, against the United States seeking appropriate relief (including an injunction against enforcement of any Act of Congress the consideration of which was in violation of the applicable requirements of section 2 or 3) may be brought by—
a person aggrieved by an action of an officer or employee in the executive branch of the Federal Government under such an Act of Congress; and
a Member of Congress aggrieved by the consideration of a bill or resolution in violation of such applicable requirements by the House of Congress in which the Member serves.
Sec. 5 Effective date
This Act shall apply with respect to any bill or resolution considered in the House of Representatives or Senate after the date of the enactment of this Act.