Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Secretary of Health and Human Services should withdraw a reduction in public notice and comment opportunities.
This is a non-binding House resolution (H. Res. 369) expressing the sense of the House that the Secretary of Health and Human Services should withdraw a March 3, 2025 Federal Register notice that would reduce public notice and comment opportunities in HHS rulemaking. The resolution urges the department to maintain or restore the notice-and-comment procedures that were in effect as of February 27, 2025. It frames public participation as essential to fair, sound policy and emphasizes that HHS rulemaking affects millions of Americans, including beneficiaries, state and local governments, and health and human services providers. As a resolution, it does not carry legal force but signals congressional opposition to the reduction and seeks to influence regulatory practices.
Key Points
- 1The resolution calls for withdrawing the March 3, 2025 Federal Register notice (90 Fed. Reg. 11029) that would reduce public notice and comment opportunities.
- 2It asks that HHS affirm the rulemaking practices that were in effect on February 27, 2025, maintaining existing public participation standards.
- 3It asserts that public participation in rulemaking is essential to fair, sound policy and helps mitigate arbitrary or harmful regulations.
- 4It notes that HHS has followed Administrative Procedure Act notice-and-comment procedures for 54 years.
- 5It highlights the broad impact of HHS regulations on program beneficiaries, state/local governments, human services providers, and related organizations, stressing the need for ongoing public input.