Press Releases

Today, Rep. Ben Cline (VA-06) introduced the Sunshine for Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act of 2025, legislation to bring transparency, accountability, and public input to federal agency consent decrees and settlement agreements. Currently, activist groups leverage behind-closed-doors lawsuits to pressure agencies into sweeping regulatory changes without meaningful input from the public, job creators, or affected industries, effectively sidestepping the traditional rulemaking process. Rep. Cline’s bill restores accountability by requiring public notice and comment, strengthened judicial review, agency head certification of settlements, and detailed reporting to Congress to ensure these agreements serve the public interest.

“The American people deserve a transparent, accountable government, not one where major regulatory decisions are made behind closed doors through backroom legal deals,” said Rep. Ben Cline. “For too long, activist-driven lawsuits have been used to force sweeping policy changes without public input or congressional oversight. The Sunshine for Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act restores openness and accountability by ensuring these agreements are subject to public notice, comment, and judicial review so that taxpayers, workers, and small businesses all have a voice.”

Congressman Ben Cline represents the Sixth Congressional District of Virginia. He previously was an attorney in private practice and served both as an assistant prosecutor and a Member of the Virginia House of Delegates. Cline and his wife, Elizabeth, live in Botetourt County with their two children.