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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Overreaching regulatory policies mandated by the |
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federal government encroach upon liberties guaranteed to United |
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States citizens by the First, Second, Fourth, and Fifth Amendments |
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enumerated in the Bill of Rights; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2013, the U.S. House of Representatives passed |
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with bipartisan support the Regulations From the Executive in Need |
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of Scrutiny (REINS) Act, which requires that congressional approval |
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be obtained prior to the execution of new major regulations; even if |
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enacted, however, that law is vulnerable to repeal or waiver by a |
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future congress or president; and |
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WHEREAS, States today have little recourse when the |
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government in Washington, D.C., oversteps its authority; the only |
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way to contest a federal regulation is to bring a constitutional |
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challenge in federal court or seek an amendment to the |
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constitution; and |
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WHEREAS, Passage of a "Regulation Freedom Amendment" would |
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help restore constitutional balance by providing that whenever one |
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quarter of the members of either the U.S. House of Representatives |
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or the U.S. Senate transmit to the president of the United States a |
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written declaration of opposition to a proposed federal regulation, |
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the regulation would require a majority vote of approval from both |
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chambers for adoption; and |
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WHEREAS, A "Regulation Freedom Amendment" would reestablish |
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the separation of powers in the regulatory process and allow the |
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will of the people to be voiced through their democratically |
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elected representatives; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 84th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby respectfully urge the Congress of the United States to |
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propose and submit to the states for ratification a "Regulation |
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Freedom Amendment" to the U.S. Constitution; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the 84th Texas Legislature hereby request that |
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the legislatures of each of the several states that compose the |
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United States join this state in urging the U.S. Congress to propose |
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and submit to the states for ratification a "Regulation Freedom |
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Amendment" to the U.S. Constitution; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official |
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copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to |
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the speaker of the House of Representatives and the president of the |
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Senate of the United States Congress, and to all members of the |
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Texas delegation to Congress with the request that this resolution |
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be officially entered in the Congressional Record as a memorial to |
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the Congress of the United States of America; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official |
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copies of this resolution to the secretaries of state and to the |
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presiding officers of the legislatures of the other states as an |
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expression of the sentiment of the Legislature of the State of |
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Texas. |